Football: Ireland face Bosnia in Euro 2016 playoffs

Football: Ireland face Bosnia in Euro 2016 playoffs
Updated on

Summary Bosnia were the next-best team after Belgium and Wales qualified from Group B.

PARIS (AFP) - The Republic of Ireland will need to beat Bosnia-Herzegovina to reach the Euro 2016 finals in France next summer following Sunday s draw.

Martin O Neill s side took third place in the Group D qualifier behind world champions Germany and Poland, and that was enough to earn them a spot in one of the four playoff ties to decide the final qualifiers for the 24 team tournament.

Bosnia were the next-best team after Belgium and Wales qualified from Group B.

Ireland have met Bosnia just once before, with the Irish winning 1-0 courtesy of a Shane Long header in May 2012 under previous manager Giovanni Trapattoni, having reached Euro 2012 via a play-off win over Estonia

In the other ties, Sweden take on Denmark in a Scandinavian derby, Ukraine play Slovenia and Norway tackle Hungary.

 

The draw, made on Sunday, for the playoffs for Euro 2016:

Sweden v Denmark

Ukraine v Slovenia

Bosnia-Herzegovina v Ireland

Norway v Hungary

(Both legs to be played between November 12-17, winners qualify for the Euro 2016 finals in France)  

Browse Topics