EURO 2016 QUALIFICATION PLAY-OFF PREVIEWS

Eight of the nations who finished third in their qualifying groups play off this week for the remaining four places in the Euro 2016 finals in France.

(All times GMT)

Norway v Hungary – Thursday 1945

Hungary v Norway – Sunday 1945

Qualifying records:

Norway:            W6       D1        L3         GF13    GA10    Pts19

Hungary:           W4       D4        L2         GF11    GA9      Pts16

Form (last five matches - earliest matches first):

Norway:            DWWWL (10pts)

Hungary:           WDDWL (8pts)

·         Norway’s goal difference of just +3 suggests they may have been fortunate to record as many as six wins, and a tight encounter could be in store here. Norway have not reached a major championship finals since Euro 2000, while Hungary have not played in the Euro finals since 1972, and last made the World Cup finals in 1986.

Bosnia-Herzegovina v Ireland – Friday 1945

Ireland v Bosnia-Herzegovina – Monday 1945

Qualifying records:

Bosnia:             W5       D2        L3         GF17    GA12    Pts17

Ireland:             W5       D3        L2         GF19    GA7      Pts18

Form:

Bosnia:             WLWWW (12pts)

Ireland:             DWWWL (10pts)

·         Ireland’s hopes of qualification – and a Euro finals international swansong for Shay Given and Robbie Keane – depend on their overcoming Bosnia. Ireland conceded just seven goals in the qualifying group, but face a stiff test here. The Balkans nation are the highest ranked team in the play-offs, at 20^th, are the most in form team of those in action this week, and Edin Dzeko scored seven times for them during the qualifying programme.

Ukraine v Slovenia – Saturday 1700

Slovenia v Ukraine – Tuesday 1945

Qualifying records:

Ukraine:            W6       D1        L3         GF14    GA4      Pts19

Slovenia:          W5       D1        L4         GF18    GA11    Pts16

Form:

Ukraine:            WWDWL (10pts)

Slovenia:          LLWDW (7pts)

·         At 64^th, Slovenia are the lowest ranked nation in these play-offs, and their two recent wins were unconvincing triumphs against Estonia and San Marino. They have a top quality striker in Milivoje Novaković, but Ukraine, ranked 36 places higher, must be strong favourites, especially with their miserly defence. Ukraine also have the best record in the group of any nation in action this week.

Sweden v Denmark – Saturday 1945

Denmark v Sweden – Tuesday 1945

Qualifying records:

Sweden:           W5       D3        L2         GF15    GA9      Pts18

Denmark:          W3       D3        L2         GF8      GA5      Pts12

Form:

Sweden:           WLLWW (9pts)

Denmark:          WDDLL (3pts)

·         Despite having Zlatan Ibrahimovic in their team, Sweden have slumped to 45^th in the world rankings, and their last match against another top-tier nation saw them lose 4-1 at home to Austria. Denmark however go into the matches with the worst recent form of all eight nations, having not won in four and scored only once in the process.