Excitement positive in European play-offs

• Four places sojourn adult for grabs in Europe
• Former universe champions Italy among 8 play-off hopefuls
• Matches holding place between 9 14 November

While Europe’s FIFA World Cup™ qualifiers are seen as a marathon rather than a sprint, a play-offs always paint that raging final lurch for a finish line.

With no domain for error, and usually 4 places to order between 8 challenging sides, these two-legged ties always broach on drama, tragedy and passion.

Who could forget, for example, Slovenia overwhelming Russia in a 2010 qualifiers, or Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo-inspired feat over Sweden 4 years ago? It’s value remembering, too, that Germany compulsory a play-off to validate for a 2002 World Cup before going on to strech a Final.

With this wilful theatre appearing once again, FIFA.com looks during a ties and a teams involved.

Here’s a full relapse of a European #WCQ play-offs!

Which 4 do we consider will make it through?
pic.twitter.com/EOqXMxN7JV

— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) October 17, 2017

Northern Ireland-Switzerland
No European organisation has ever unsuccessful to strech a World Cup after earning 27 points during a organisation phase, and Switzerland will be assured of avoiding apropos a first. They have competent for any of a final 3 editions and were usually edged off tip mark by Portugal during a finish of an earlier flawless organisation campaign. But Northern Ireland, carrying valid that their UEFA EURO 2016 heroics were no fluke, will be out to explain another high-profile scalp. They are aiming to strech their fourth World Cup – and initial given 1986.

Croatia-Greece
This tie brings together dual undoubted play-off specialists. Greece are aiming to turn a initial European organisation to strech 3 unbroken World Cups around a play-offs, carrying seen off Romania and Ukraine en track to a 2010 and 2014 editions. But they will start as underdogs opposite a star-studded Croatia side braggadocio an unmatched and unblemished record of play-off victories. They have triumphed in all 4 of their prior subordinate play-offs for vital tournaments and, with a likes of Luka Modric, Ivan Rakitic, Mario Mandzukic and Ivan Perisic to call upon, will be assured of creation it 5 out of five.

Sweden-Italy
Only dual teams, Brazil (21) and Germany (19), have competent for some-more World Cups than Italy, and Gli Azzurri can pull turn with a Germans should they corner out Sweden. They have come by a play-off once before – violence Russia on their approach to France 1998 – yet will have their work cut out opposite a revitalised Swedish side. Indeed, Janne Andersson’s side are a top scorers of a 8 play-off contenders, carrying found a net 26 times during a organisation phase.

Denmark-Republic of Ireland
No European organisation has participated in some-more subordinate play-offs for vital tournaments than Republic of Ireland. This will be their eighth overall, and they have churned memories of 3 noted triumphs – such as violence Iran to validate for a 2002 World Cup – and 4 harmful losses, among them an barbarous better to France in 2009. Denmark, though, will start as favourites – “rightly so” according to Martin O’Neill. They are a organisation a Irish have not beaten in a rival compare given 1979, and Age Hareide’s in-form side go into this compare carrying not tasted better in over a year.

The stat
8 – Of a 8 teams to have won a World Cup, 7 – Argentina, Brazil, England, France, Germany, Spain and Uruguay – have already competent for Russia 2018. Can Italy finish a set?

The player
Christian Eriksen has scored in any of his final 6 appearances for Denmark and is usually a third actor in a team’s story to shelve adult such a run. Martin O’Neill has lauded a Tottenham Hotspur midfielder as “one of a best in a world”, while Age Hareide suggested he could be “the difference” in a tie many pundits design to be tight.

Article source: http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/news/y=2017/m=11/news=excitement-assured-in-european-play-offs-2918857.html