EURO 2012 Play-Off's preview

Eight teams are still battling it out for the remaining four spots of Euro 2012 to be held in Poland/Ukraine. Lets have a look at the teams who have a chance of securing a spot for EURO 2012.

Bosnia Herzegovina v/s Portugal

Bosnia was just twelve minutes away from an automatic qualification to the finals but they were denied by a Samir Nasri penalty. France with a draw secured their place in the final 16 from Group D.

Portugal went down to Denmark in their last game to finish second in Group H thereby settling for a playoff spot. Both teams are no strangers when it comes to playoffs as they have met in the 2010 World Cup qualifier. Portgual sealed their place in South Africa with a 2-0 win on aggregate (1-0,0-1).

Team News

Bosnia are without their experienced defender Papac who plays with Rangers FC. The left back is suspended for the first leg along with his partner Boris Pandža. While in midfield they are without the winger Mensur Mujdža who was injured while playing for his club. The 19 year old defender Muhamed Beši? from Hamburger SV has been drafted into the squad.

Player to watch out for: Edin Dzeko (4 goals, 1 assist in the qualifiers)

Portugal coach Paulo Bento is a relieved man as four of his key players are back after missing the final match in qualifiers. FC Zenit St Petersburg’s Danny, Hugo Almeida of Be?ikta? and Real Madrid’s duo Fábio Coentrão and Pepe are in the squad. The likes of in form players Nani, Raul Meireles will definitely add strength to the Portugese line up. Bento will be reshuffling his defence which has conceded 12 goals in ten matches.

Player to watch out for: Cristiano Ronaldo (6 goals in the qualifiers)

Turkey v/s Croatia

Turkey was placed in Group A and the only question was who will finish second to Germany. The 2002 World Cup semi finalist’s 1-0 win over Azerbaijan and Germany’s win over Belgium confirmed their place in the playoffs.

Croatia looked sealing their place in the finals from Group F as winners but Greece’s late comeback against Georgia turned around the things. Both teams had met in the EURO 2008 Quaterfinals where Turkey had the final laugh beating Croatia in the penalty shoot out.

Team News

Turkey will be without their England born striker Colin Kaz?m-Richards who is out with a hamstring injury. That will lead the way for Halil Antlop to pair along with Burak Y?lmaz who is in red hot form for Trabzonspor as he scored 13 goals in eight appearances in the Turkish Süper Lig. They will be banking on the Atletico Madrid midfielder Arda Turan who played a key role in helping Turkey reaching the semi finals in the EURO 2008.

Player to watch out for: Burak Yilmaz (3 goals in the qualifiers)

The Croatian coach Slaven Bili? has lots of injury concerns as their first choice central defender Dejan Lovren will miss both ties after picking up a knee injury. The left back Ivan Strini? and the Tottenham Hotspur midfiedler Niko Kranjcar are also out with injuries. While Vedran Corluka too is a doubt for the first leg after picking up a knock in the training session. But the presence of Luka Modric in central midfield will be a major boost.

The Dinamo Zagreb player rediscovered his form for Spurs after a sluggish start to the season. The former Arsenal striker Eduardo will depend on him to add to his tally of three goals in the qualifiers.

Player to watch out for: Luka Modric (1 goal, 2 assists in qualifiers)

Czech Republic v/s Montenegro

A 4-1 win against Lithuania in the final match of the qualifiers sealed Czech Republic’s place in the playoffs from Group I. Spain secured qualification from the group after winning all their matches while Scotland finished third two points behind Czech Republic.

Montenegro after separating from Serbia-Montenegro is making their first appearance in qualifiers. They stunned Switzerland at home and got two points from England to seal a place in the play-offs from Group G.

Team News

Czech Republic will be without their defensive midfielder Tomáš Hübschman who is suspended for both the matches and the centre back Roman Hubník too is out for the first leg. While the Galatasaray striker Milan Barros is a major doubt with a calf injury. But the coach Michal Bílek is relived by the fact that Peter Cech is set to guard the goal post after breaking his nose against Blackburn Rovers last week in the Premier League. The Chelsea goal keeper will wear a special helmet to protect his nose.

Player to watch out for: Michal Kadlec (4 goals in qualifiers)

Montenegro doesn’t have any injury worries and welcomes back defenders Miodrag Džudovi? and Marko Baša from injuries. The set piece specialist Nikola Drin?i? is also back in the squad and will join with the DC United player Branko Boškovi? in midfield. The Juventus striker Mirko Vu?ini? will be the key player upfront for Montenegro.

Player to watch out for: Mirko Vu?ini? (2 goals in qualifiers)

Republic of Ireland v/s Estonia

When Republic of Ireland last played a play-off, French striker Thierry Henry’s controversial hand ball dashed their hopes of a trip to South Africa. A 2-1 win over Armenia in Group D sealed their place in the play-offs where Russia qualified as the winners. Estonia like Montenegro is making their first entry into the playoff stage. Paired along with Italy in Group C they qualified thanks to Serbia’s failure in beating Slovenia in their last match.

Team News

Republic of Ireland faces a striker crisis after Shane Long was ruled out with a knee injury suffered in the Premier League match against Aston Villa. While the Wolves striker Kevin Doyle is suspended for the first leg and Giovanni Trapattonii has recalled the LA Galaxy striker Robbie Keane. The former Manchester United defender John O’shea is also out with a groin injury and will be replaced by Stephen Kelly. The winger Stephen Ward is back after suspension.

Player to watch out for: Robbie Keane (5 goals in qualifiers)

Estonia is all set to miss out the services of their striker Sergei Zenjov who suffered a knee injury while playing for his club Karpaty Lviv in the Ukrainian league. The coach Tarmo Rüütli recalled New York Red Bulls midfielder Joel Lindpere who recently announced his retirement from international football. The attacking midfielder Konstantin Vassiljev will be calling the shots and will be key to the hopes of Estonians.

Player to watch out for: Konstantin Vassiljev (5 goals, 2 assists in qualifiers)