Bosnia v Northern Ireland
BOSNIA Three Reasons to be Cheerful
1 Their world-class big guns: centreforward and skipper Edin Dzeko and cultured schemer Miralem Pjanic. If those two deliver individually so does the collective.
2 Only appointed late last year, new coach Dusan Bajevic is a wily, experienced old hand and, more importantly, he is a winner. The architect of multiple Greek league titles with AEK and Olympiakos, although he is far less excitable than his predecessor Robert Prosinecki.
3 In the 2018 Nations League they beat Northern Ireland home and away, prevailing 2-1 in Belfast and 2-0 in Sarajevo. A sure psychological edge.
Three Fear Factors
1 The failure of attempts to lure centre-back Ognjen Vranjes out of international retirement. What message did that send out to the other stoppers in the current squad?
2 A track record of disappointment and false dawns in tournament play-offs: twice undone by Portugal
(in the repechage for the 2010 World Cup and Euro 2012) and losing to the Republic of Ireland at the final fence en route to Euro 2016.
3 Their poor form in Euro 2020 qualification. They lost five of their 10 ties and only finished fourth in Group J behind Italy, Finland and Greece.
NORTHERN IRELAND Three Reasons to be Cheerful
1 They will have been buoyed by a very strong qualifying campaign, coming third in a tough group behind Germany and Holland, being good enough to hold an excellent Dutch side to a goalless draw in Belfast.
2 It will be a last hurrah for coach Michael O’Neill who, after eight glorious years in charge, will walk away once the play-off account is settled. The Stoke City boss has worked wonders for the team and is a wonderful manmanager and organiser.
3 Very much a player on the up, Stuart Dallas brings triple quantities of energy, aggression and versatility to the table. A favourite of Leeds United coach Marcelo Bielsa, he can operate on either flank or in central midfield.
Three Fear Factors
1 The goalkeeping spot is a huge area of concern. Neither Bailey PeacockFarrell (Burnley), Michael McGovern (Norwich) nor Trevor Carson (Motherwell) are enjoying regular first-team football. Indeed, McGovern and Peacock-Farrell are third choice at their respective clubs. 2 They are sure to miss midfielder Corry Evans, who fractured his skull and an eye socket in a horrific incident early this year.
3 The assumption that the two
Irish nations will meet in a Path B showdown ignores the fact that there is a semi-final to be won first.