The Republic of Ireland are unseeded for Sunday’s play-off draw for Euro 2016.
It’s not an ideal situation, considering Ireland’s previous form at this stage, but a scenario that most Irish fans would’ve taken this time last week, and arguably where Martin O’Neill’s side deserved to finish.
We’ve looked at the strengths and weaknesses of our potential opponents, starting with their goals for and against during qualifying.
Bosnia and Herzegovina lead the way with 17 goals, following by Ukraine on 15, Sweden on 14 and Hungary on 11.
Here’s the amount of goals our potential opponents conceded during qualifying.
And here’s how Ireland’s potential opponents shape up, ranked from worst case scenario draw to best.
Ukraine
Star player: Andriy Yarmolenko
Jose Mourinho was reportedly at Ukraine’s 1-0 defeat to Spain in Kiev to get a close look at Yarmolenko. Which doesn’t explain why he was dressed as a Sith Lord.
Yarmolenko is a right-sided attacking midfielder for Dynamo Kiev, who scored four goals in qualifying for Ukraine.
The 25-year-old is a fast, creative, tricky player, who likes to cut inside and is capable of scoring from distance, as Everton found out in last season’s Europa League.
Yarmolenko also has an impressive 20 goals in 53 international appearances.
Robbie Brady will need to put a much improved performance from the Poland game at left-back if Ireland draw Ukraine.
On the other side or Ukraine’s attacking frontline, Yevhen Konoplyanka is just as dangerous.
Manager: Mykhaylo Fomenko
Fomenko took charge of the national team following their disappointing showing as hosts of Euro 2012. The 67-year-old’s win percentage is an impressive 67%.
Previous record against Ireland: No previous meetings.
If they’re so good, why did they finish third?
In essence, due to two results. Ukraine lost the opening game of their qualifying campaign to Slovakia, who would finish three points ahead of their rivals. Then, a month later, Slovakia secured a dramatic 2-1 victory over eventual group winners Spain.
There was little between the two sides, and Ukraine appear unfortunate to miss out on automatic qualification. They’re comfortably the best side in the play-offs, hence why Ireland need to avoid them.
If they were a Premier League club, who would they be?
In the context of the play-offs, let’s say Chelsea.
They’ve an ageing captain, Anatoliy Tymoshchuk, they don’t concede a lot of goals, just four across the whole qualification campaign, and their most dangerous attacking threat comes from wide forwards. For Eden Hazard, read Andriy Yarmolenko.
It will take performances of the kind Ireland put in against Germany for Ireland to advance ahead of Ukraine should we end up playing them.
This would also require our opponents to underestimate us again, as Germany did, which is unlikely to happen in a play-off.
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Star Player: Edin Dzeko
Currently on-loan at Roma from Manchester City, Dzeko has a very impressive international strike rate with 44 goals in 77 games and seven in qualifying, the same amount as Gareth Bale.
The 29-year-old could cause what will be a makeshift Ireland central defence, without the suspended John O’Shea for the first leg, plenty of trouble. Dzeko is strong in the air, a good finisher and links up well with his teammates.
Behind Dzeko, in central midfield, Ireland fans may shudder at the thought of Glenn Whelan up against Miralem Pjanic. If given time on the ball, the Roma midfielder can do this:
Manager: Mehmed Bazdarevic
Bazdarevic only took charge of Bosnia last December, following a disappointing start to their campaign. The 55-year-old has won five of his six games in charge, including a 2-0 win over second place Wales.
Previous record against Ireland: Ireland beat Bosnia 1-0 back in May 2012. Shane Long scored the only goal in Ireland’s penultimate warm-up game before Euro 2012.
A repeat result next month would be nice.
If they’re so good, why did they finish third?
Despite reports to the contrary, it wasn’t because of an all-conquering Wales team. Bosnia were undone by a terrible start to their qualifying campaign, taking just one point from their opening three games, and losing to relative minnows Israel and Cyprus.
If they were a Premier League club, who would they be?
Swansea City because, like the Swans, Bosnia have experienced hardship and rejuvenation, and are relative newbies at this level.
They are also a creative team, with a powerful centre-forward and who like to play through central midfield. They’re capable of beating the best on their day, but can succumb to unexpected defeats.
Sweden
Star player: Martin Olsson
The Norwich City defender is a colossus at the back and… only joking, of course it’s this fella.
He may now be 34, but Zlatan is still Zlatan. Sweden’s talisman is capable of moments of genius and would be the only world class player on show should Ireland draw the Swedes in a play-off.
We love Jon Walters, but can the Stoke forward do this?
https://twitter.com/FootballFanager/status/653586197709586432
Manager: Erik Hamren
The 57-year-old has been Sweden manager since 2009, and has a win percentage of 58.33% over 72 games. However, he has only guided his home nation to one tournament in that time, Euro 2012.
Previous record against Ireland: This is perhaps what should give Ireland fans most hope should we draw Sweden. During the depressing final qualifying campaign under Giovanni Trapattoni, Ireland secured a goalless draw away to the Scandinavians in March 2013, and suffered a narrow 2-1 loss at the Aviva in September 2013.
The gloom from that campaign has been lifted for Ireland, and some new players, such as Robbie Brady and Jeff Hendrick have been introduced, along with finally utilising Wes Hoolahan’s obvious talents.
In that time, Sweden have gotten older, and have just five players under 25 in their current squad. We’re not saying it’ll be easy, or that Ireland would be favourites, but this wouldn’t be the worst draw for O’Neill’s side.
If they’re so good, why did they finish third?
Because they were third best in the group, simple. Against their direct rivals, Austria and Russia, Sweden only gained two points from four games.
They suffered a crushing 4-1 loss at home to Austria last month, just days after losing 1-0 away to Russia. The Swedes, like Ireland, can have no real complaints about finishing third.
If they were a Premier League club, who would they be?
West Brom.
If they had Zlatan.
Hungary
Star player: Krisztian Nemeth
Who? Exactly. The Sporting Kansas City striker was joint top scorer, alongside Daniel Bode, for his country in qualifying, with a measly two goals. While 36-year-old Zoltan Gera, once of West Brom and Fulham, and now back playing in Hungarian football, is still in the team.
In truth, there is no Gareth Bale-style star player for the Hungarians, with 13 of their squad currently playing in their domestic league.
Manager: Bernd Storck
The 52-year-old Germany took charge of the Hungary team back in July, having previously being coach of the under-21s, and has a mixed record so far, gaining just five points from four games.
Previous record against Ireland: A goalless draw in Budapest in 2012, Ireland’s final warm-up game before the Euros, was the last meeting between the sides.
If they’re so good, why did they finish third?
No disrespect to Northern Ireland, who deserve immense credit for topping their qualifying group, but if you lose at home to the team seeded fifth in the group, and draw away, then you don’t deserve automatic passage to France next summer.
In their six games against Northern Ireland, Romania and Greece, Hungary gained just four points, and failed to win a game. They even lost earlier this week to a Greece side who’d been a shambles in qualifying.
There’s no disguising it, Hungary is the dream draw for Ireland.
If they were a Premier League club, who would they be?
Hungary possessed one of the greatest teams ever in the early 1950s, Sunderland claimed their sixth and final league title in 1936. Both experienced their glory days before the advent of colour television.
