Sport Updates
AFP
Ireland face Bosnia in Euro 2016 play-offs
AFP, PARIS: The Republic of Ireland will need to beat Bosnia-Herzegovina to reach the Euro 2016 finals in France next year following Sundays draw for the play-offs.
Martin ONeills side took third place in Group D behind world champions Germany and Poland, and that was enough to earn them a spot in one of the four play-off ties to decide the final qualifiers for the 24-team tournament. Bosnia were third in Group B behind Belgium and Wales.
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.
They reached Euro 2012 via a play-off win over Estonia. Bosnia lost in the play-offs for the 2010 World Cup and Euro 2012, both times to Portugal.
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 play-offs for Euro 2016:
Norway v Hungary: (1st leg November 12; 2nd leg November 15)
Bosnia-Herzegovina v Ireland: (1st leg November 13; 2nd leg November 16)
Ukraine v Slovenia: (1st leg November 14; 2nd leg November 17)
Sweden v Denmark: (1st leg November 14; 2nd leg November 17)
