ITALY’S PROUD RECORD UNDER THREAT

Failure to qualify would be a nightmare

home with both Spain and Macedonia in their group.

The playoff puts Italy’s proud record of World Cup participation is in danger. The Azzurri are tied with Germany for most appearances by a European nation, 18. But Germany have already made sure of a 19th berth.

Italy are also the only one of the eight previous winners not yet sure of their place in Russia.

“These are two games where we cannot make mistakes,” Daniele De Rossi, a World Cup winner in 2006, said. “The stakes are so high that, while it is all very well to talk about blood and guts and giving everything until the end, we also require lucidity, organisation, technique and running.”

Switzerland collected 27 points in their 10 group games, more than five of the nations that won their groups. Yet they came second on goal difference to Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal.

“They’re obviously the seeded team, so the pressure’s more on them than us,” Northern Ireland forward Jamie Ward said. “We’re always great as the underdogs, so I think it was a bit of a bonus us not being seeded.”

The encounter between Greece and Croatia pairs two nations that specialise in winning playoffs. If Greece win, they will become the first European team to reach three successive World Cups through playoffs. Croatia have won all four of their qualifying playoffs for major tournaments.

The Republic of Ireland, which take on Denmark, have a chequered history with playoffs. This is their eighth overall, a European record. They have won three and lost four, including the notorious game in France in 2009 when Thierry Henry’s handball set up the extra-time goal that eliminated the Irish.