Ibra, key for Sweden
Sweden players during a training session ahead of their Euro 2016 play-off clash against Denmark. (Photo: AFP)
Paris: A diminished Republic of Ireland will hope to emerge from the first leg of their Euro 2016 qualifying play-off away to Bosnia-Herzegovina on Friday with their chances of reaching the finals still intact. Martin O’Neill’s side go to Zenica before hosting the Bosnians in Dublin on Monday with a place in France next summer up for grabs, but with suspensions and injuries giving the Irish manager plenty to think about.
O’Neill will have to do without the suspended Jonathan Walters and John O’Shea and injured goalkeeper Shay Given. Newcastle United goalkeeper Rob Elliot and Southampton striker Shane Long — scorer of the goal that secured a famous 1-0 win over Germany last month — are also fitness concerns. While Ireland finished third behind Germany and Poland in qualifying Group D, Bosnia came in behind Wales and Belgium in Group B.
Mehmed Bazdarevic’s squad features the likes of Chelsea goalkeeper Asmir Begovic and Roma duo Miralem Pjanic and Edin Dzeko. And along with that quality comes experience of these occasions, albeit the memories are not happy — Bosnia lost to Portugal in play-offs for the 2010 World Cup and Euro 2012.
Ibra, key for Sweden
Meanwhile, Scandinavian rivals Sweden and Denmark meet in the first leg of their tie in Solna, just outside Stockholm, on Saturday. The two nations, linked by the Oresund Bridge spanning the water from Copenhagen to Malmo, have plenty of history in the European Championship.
Denmark won Euro ‘92 in Sweden, but only after losing to the hosts in the group stage, while a 2-2 draw between the sides at Euro 2004 in Portugal took them through to the quarterfinals at Italy’s expense. Then there was the Euro 2008 qualifier in Copenhagen in 2007 that was abandoned after a Danish supporter ran on to the pitch and attacked the German referee who had just awarded Sweden a penalty and sent off Denmark’s Christian Poulsen for a punch on Markus Rosenberg.
With Zlatan Ibrahimovic fresh from winning Sweden’s Golden Ball award and having scored nine goals in six league games for Paris Saint-Germain, Erik Hamren’s side will be hopeful of taking a lead into the return. Denmark, meanwhile, will be without Hannover midfielder Leon Andreasen after he cut his hand with a knife opening a parcel and needed an operation.
Hungary line up Norway:
Hungary had been poised to qualify automatically as the best third-placed team until a late Turkey goal in the 89th minute of their final match took them through instead.
That was agonising for a country with a rich footballing history but which hasn’t been to a major tournament since the 1986 World Cup. However, Hungary, coached by German Bernd Storck, have another chance to progress as they face Norway over two legs, with the first game in Oslo on Thursday. The four play-off winners will join the 19 other qualified nations and the hosts France in the finals draw in Paris on December 12.
Fixtures (First leg): Thursday: At Oslo: Norway v Hungary; Friday: At Zenica, Bosnia-Herzegovina: Bosnia-Herzegovina v Ireland; Saturday: At Lviv, Ukraine: Ukraine v Slovenia; At Solna, Sweden: Sweden v Denmark.
Second leg: Sunday: At Budapest: Hungary v Norway; Monday: At Dublin: Ireland v Bosnia-Herzegovina; Tuesday: At Maribor, Slovenia: Slovenia v Ukraine; At Copenhagen: Denmark v Sweden.
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( Source : AFP )
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