"Anything other than the Germans and the Czechs qualifying now would be a surprise. When the draw was made they were the teams expected to go through.
"We still think we can finish third. We now have three away games, here, Cyprus and San Marino, and we have to look for nine points. Starting here.
"From our position third spot would be a tremendous achievement, but we have to aim at that.
"I do not think it is beyond us, anything else probably is. We must get nine points from our next three before we finish with tough ones against the Irish and Germans."