Ireland given Estonia play-off

11 April 2012

The Republic of Ireland must get the better of Estonia in a two-legged play-off in order to qualify for next summer's European Championships.

Tuesday's win over Armenia ensured Giovanni Trapattoni's men finished second in Group B and they were paired off with the Group C runners-up in this afternoon's draw.

Estonia have never reached the finals of a major tournament, and this is Tarmo Ruutli's side's first play-off appearance.

Ireland have played in five-play offs before, winning just once, while their last appearance ended in acrimony when they were knocked out by France following a controversial handball by Thierry Henry ahead of the 2010 World Cup.

The first leg will take place in Estonia on either November 11 or 12, with the return leg at Dublin's Aviva Stadium on November 15.

Estonia finished 10 points behind group winners Italy in qualifying, with six of their points coming courtesy of wins over Northern Ireland.

The Republic emerged from a tough group containing winners Russia and the likes of Armenia and Slovakia to secure second spot by four points.

They have only reached the European Championship finals once before - in West Germany in 1988 - but will be relatively pleased to have drawn Estonia.

There were tougher-looking assignments in the pot of unseeded teams they could have been put up against, with Turkey hosting Croatia, the Czech Republic taking on Montenegro and Bosnia going up against Portugal.

Portugal and Bosnia were both losers in winner-takes-all showdowns on Tuesday, with Portugal losing to Denmark and with it surrendering top spot in Group H, while Bosnia drew 1-1 with France when a win would have seen them pip Laurent Blanc's men to the automatic spot in Group B.

The Czechs took second in Group I, winning a two-way tussle with Scotland to finish behind reigning champions Spain.

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