A guide through the play offs

Ger McCarthy

IT seems an eternity but the qualification for next summer’s European Championship finals in Poland and the Ukraine began with Estonia defeating the Faroe Islands 2-1 back in August 2010.
Having negotiated eight tough qualifying fixtures, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Portugal, Turkey, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Montenegro, Estonia and the Republic of Ireland have one final opportunity to make it to next summer’s showpiece event.


Bosnia and Herzegovina v Portugal
How they got there
THE Bosnians finished runners-up in Group D a point behind France to make it through to the Euro 2012 play-offs. Edin Dzeko’s first-half goal in the final group match away to the French looked set to secure a famous away victory in the Stade de France until Samir Nasri’s converted penalty sent Laurent Blanc’s side through.
Bosnia and Herzegovina enjoyed a decent qualification run losing only once at home (2-0 to the French) and recording four home victories and just a single loss on the road. Manchester City’s Dzeko top scored with four goals with Haris Medunjanin and Zvjezdan Misimovic contributing three apiece in a free-scoring side. Safet Susic’s squad will need to build a substantial lead in Zenica on Friday evening before facing the Portuguese on their home turf four days later.
Portugal were tipped by many to win Group H which included Denmark, Norway, Cyprus and Iceland but had to settle for the runners-up spot after the Danes finished top of the standings. The final group encounter saw Nicklas Bendtner and Michael Krohn-Dehli strikes earn Denmark a 2-1 victory and consign Portugal to the play-offs. Not surprisingly Ronaldo finished top scorer with five goals but the Real Madrid star will need to reproduce his club form if his country are to make it past a plucky Bosnian outfit.

Prediction
THE two countries last met in a 2010 World Cup play-off with Portugal emerging 2-0 aggregate winners following consecutive victories. Despite Bosnia’s recent resurgence the greater attacking threat of a Portuguese side anchored by Nani and Ronaldo should see Paulo Bento’s side through.

Turkey v Croatia
How they got there
GUUS Hiddink leads his Turkish side into battle against Croatia for a place in Euro 2012 having edged Belgium and Austria for the runners-up spot in Group A. Germany were the runaway group winners with the Turks securing second place following a tense 1-0 win over Azerbaijan in the final fixture to finish above the Belgians. Hamit Altintop impressed throughout the campaign and weighed in with two goals from midfield. The diminutive midfielder, if he is fit, is likely to feature prominently over the two legs.
Similar to Turkey, Croatia were favoured to finish top of the pile in Group G but had to settle for a play-off berth once Greece secured a 2-0 win over Slaven Bilic’s side on October 7 in Piraeus. Tottenham’s Niko Kranjcar top scored with four but it is the form of his talented team mate, Luka Modric, which will most worry the Turks ahead of two explosive encounters. Modric is playing some the best football of his career since being paired with Scott Parker in the Spurs midfield and it would be a shame to see the little Croatian magician miss out on the Euros.

Prediction
CROATIA possess the requisite quality within their ranks to see off a talented and well organised Turkish side provided they secure a draw in what promises to be an intimidating atmosphere in Istanbul on Friday night. Expect plenty of fireworks both on and off the pitch before Croatia eventually take their place in next summer’s finals.

Czech Republic v Montenegro
How they got there
THE Stadion Letna in Prague is the venue for Friday night’s first leg between the Czech Republic and Montenegro. The Czech’s were left to battle it out with Craig Levine’s Scotland for the runners-up spot in Group I after Spain’s tiki-taka football secured first place with a perfect record of eight wins from eight fixtures.
A Roman Hubnik header earned Michal Bilek’s side a narrow 1-0 win over the Scots in October 2010 before a controversial 2-2 draw at Hampden Park in September was achieved courtesy of a last minute Michal Kadlec penalty. Kadlec is the Czech’s top scorer with four and the Bayer Leverkusen defender’s form will be pivotal to the Czech Republic’s hopes of progressing especially if Chelsea goalkeeper Peter Cech isn’t fit enough to line out.
Montenegro stands between the Czech’s and a place at Euro 2012 having finished runners-up in Group G behind Fabio Capello’s England. The Montenegrins came from 2-0 down to earn a crucial 2-2 draw at the expense of the English on October 7 and that point was enough to cement a play-off spot ahead of Switzerland. Manager Branko Brnovic’s side will rely heavily on the attacking guile of Juventus striker Marko Vucinic in their attempt to qualify for the Euros but Elsad Zverotic, Andrija Delibasic and Stevan Jovetic have also netted en-route to the play-offs suggesting the Czech’s are in for a busy 180 minutes.

Prediction
THE Czech Republic’s greater experience in qualifying for and producing the goods at major tournaments hands Michal Bilek’s the advantage heading into Friday’s first leg in Prague. Montenegro conceded a mere seven goals in a difficult qualifying group and will hope Peter Cech fails a late fitness test.

Estonia v Republic of Ireland
How they got there
THE two biggest international matches in the recent history of Estonian football begin on Friday evening with a first leg against the Republic of Ireland in Tallinn. Estonia caused a major surprise in finishing ahead of both Slovenia and Serbia to grab the runners-up spot from Group C behind group winners Italy. Despite losing to the Faroe Islands the Estonians managed to win in Serbia and Slovenia to secure a play-off berth. The Republic of Ireland under Italian manager Giovanni Trapattoni qualified for the Euro 2012 play-offs having finished second in Group B behind Russia but ahead of an emerging Armenian side and established Slovakia. A 2-1 victory in the final group fixture at home to the Armenians was enough to secure a play-off berth thanks to an own goal and a Richard Dunne strike. Robbie Keane topped the goal-scoring charts for the Irish with five while Kevin Doyle and Aiden McGeady each chipped in with two apiece. Injury concerns surrounding a host of players including goalkeeper Shay Given and captain Robbie Keane will worry Trapattoni ahead of the first leg on Friday evening against an Estonian side with nothing to lose. The absence of the suspended Kevin Doyle and injured Shane Long is certain to blunt the Irish attack.

Prediction
IT won’t be pretty but expect the Republic of Ireland to squeeze through following a bore draw in Tallinn followed up by a narrow home win at the Aviva Stadium.


Follow Ger on Twitter: @offentrecircle

Source: http://feeds.examiner.ie/~r/iesportsblog/~3/_e-zVjND5_c/post.aspx

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