Republic of Ireland To Face Estonia in EURO 2012 Play-off

The Republic of Ireland will face Estonia in the crucial Euro 2012two-legged play-off after the fortune of the draw in Krakow favoured them this afternoon. They have missed the tricky ties against Turkey and especially Montenegro (a team England failed to beat home or away) and the other unseeded team Bosnia-Herzegovina and now really should qualify for their first International Tournament since they did so well at the World Cup in Japan/South Korea ten years ago. The draw also favoured Ireland in the way the games will play out. Estonia are at home first either on 11/12 November with the advantage of the second leg at home at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin on November 15th. Of course perhaps the defining moment of the draw came earlier in the week when The Republic were named as a seeded team meaning they wouldn't have to face Portugal, Croatia or the Czech Republic, on the basis of UEFA's national team coefficients. Memories are no doubt still strife in the Irish camp over their bitter World Cup 2010 play-off defeat against France when the 'hand of Henry' saw them lose in extra time but Giovanni Trapattoni's men will know that this time they should qualify though they will be wary that Estonia beat Northern Ireland twice in the group stages. The draw was conducted at lunchtime by UEFA general secretary Gianni Infantino and legendary Poland striker Zbigniew Boniek. Holders Spain, Germany, Italy, England, France, Russia, Greece, Holland, Denmark, best runners-up Sweden and also hosts Poland and Ukraine have already qualified for the tournament and along with the play-off winners will learn the finals draw fate on December 2nd in Kiev. The tournament itself runs June 8th to July 1st, 2012.