The reward for failing to clinch the top spot in the UEFA World Cup qualifiers is an additional two matches. Northern Ireland, Switzerland, Croatia, Greece, Sweden, Italy, Denmark, and the Republic of Ireland will be hoping to book a ticket to the 2018 FIFA World Cup with these two extra international fixtures.
Unless they do the improbable and defeat Italy (4x winners), Sweden will be missing out on a third FIFA World Cup in a row. The last time the Italians miss a World Cup was in 1958, so it is fair to expect Italy to come out of this tie with a ticket to the World Cup.
Switzerland will be looking to make it a fourth consecutive appearance in the FIFA World Cup when they face a Northern Ireland side that hasn’t been to the big stage since the 1986 World Cup. Croatia is looking to make it a back-to-back World Cup appearance when they play a Greek team that is shooting for third FIFA World Cup qualification in a row. The Republic of Ireland hasn’t been to the World Cup since Japan/Korea 2002, and their trip to the 2018 edition will require them to deny Denmark a consecutive appearance.
The play-off matches will run from November 9th – 14th,2017
9 November 2017
Northern Ireland vs Switzerland
Croatia vs Greece
10 November 2017
Sweden vs Italy
11 November 2017
Denmark vs Republic of Ireland
12 November 2017
Switzerland vs Northern Ireland
Greece vs Croatia
13 November 2017
Italy vs Sweden
14 November 2017
Republic of Ireland vs Denmark
Tracking a specific match-up? Here you go.
Northern Ireland – Switzerland
9 November 2017
Northern Ireland vs Switzerland
12 November 2017
Switzerland vs Northern Ireland
Croatia – Greece
9 November 2017
Croatia vs Greece
12 November 2017
Greece vs Croatia
Denmark – Republic of Ireland
11 November 2017
Denmark vs Republic of Ireland
14 November 2017
Republic of Ireland vs Denmark
Sweden – Italy
10 November 2017
Sweden vs Italy
13 November 2017
Italy vs Sweden
Good luck to these 8 teams. We would have loved to see all of next summer in Russia.
