Now that we know the identity of our potential play-off opponents, here’s a lowdown on what to expect both on the pitch and off it.
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Until Samir Nasri netted a 78th minute penalty to equalise in Paris last night, Bosnia were on their way to automatic qualification for Euro 2012 and we were looking at the possibility of exacting revenge on our Gallic neighbours for all those injustices of two years ago.
It wasn’t to be, however, and instead the Bosnians are shaping up to be potentially very tricky opponents in the play-offs. Edin Dzeko is the main man and Vedad Ibiševi? is an able deputy up front, but if we do draw the Bosnians tomorrow, keep an eye out for Roma’s Miralem Pjani? in midfield, a 21-year old with an eye for goal and 28 caps to his name already.
World ranking: 22
Star man: Edin Dzeko. Finally coming to life in the Premier League after a false start in the second half of last season.
Lads’ weekend potential: Bosnia play their home games in Sarajevo, which may have a dodgy reputation, but has recovered immeasurably in recent times. It was listed as one of the top ten cities to visit by Lonely Planet in 2009 and nominated for European Capital of Culture in 2014. It’s still 1,300 miles away, mind.
Estonia
Ireland pulling Estonia out of the hat in the play-off draw would not be such a bad thing for a number of reasons. First of all, they finished with the lowest points total out of all the second placed teams (those that played 10 games) and secondly, followers of the Boys in Green would certainly relish a trip to renowned party-spot Tallinn for the away leg.
Had Nemanja Vidic not missed a penalty in his last game for his country, it would be Serbia and not Estonia shaping up as potential play-off opponents and for that we should probably be glad.
World ranking: 58
Star man: Estonia are a team that are greater than the sum of their parts, but Konstantin Vassiljev is a tricky enough midfielder, averaging a goal around every three matches.
Lads’ weekend potential: In a word, massive. One of the most popular spots for trips away with the lads on the continent, Tallinn is relatively cheap, loaded with good pubs and clubs and plenty of beautiful women too. For those reasons, the social Irish supporters are probably keeping their fingers crossed that we draw Estonia.
Montenegro
Montenegro are not such strange bedfellows to Giovanni Trapattoni’s men, having participated in two god-awful 0-0 draws in the most recent World Cup qualifying campaign.
They, were, however, only mere gasúrs back then having only come into existence and while it would be stretching it a bit to say that they have gone from strength to strength since, they will represent a more formidable obstacle to the Boys in Green than they did back then.
World ranking: 26
Star man: Mirko Vu?ini?. It took €15 million for Juventus to prise Vucinic away from Roma in the summer and at international level, his record is better than a goal in two.
Lads’ weekend potential: Pogdorica. Smaller than the other cities that Ireland will potentially visit, there’s not an awful lot going on here, we’re afraid.
Turkey
Talk of a potential clash with the Turks instantly brings back memories of Bursa in 1999 and Tony Cascarino’s undignified end to an international career that was subsequently proven to be completely illegitimate.
Although Ireland are very good away from home, nobody would really fancy travelling to Turkey given the traditionally hostile welcome we can expect and the fact that the only points Turkey dropped at home in the group stages were to a currently rampant German outfit.
World ranking: 27
Star man: Arda Turan. A star in Turkey’s march to the semi-finals in Euro 2008, Turan has maintained his excellence and contributed an impressive eight goals in qualifying.
Lads’ weekend potential: Istanbul may not be first on everyone’s list for a few days away with the lads, but Liverpool fans who made the trip in 2005 will have happy memories of the Turkish capital. Avoid engaging in any hostility with the local fans and you should be fine.
We’ll be tracking the draw live on the site from 11am tomorrow morning, so keep an eye on our homepage for more details.
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