EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP PLAY-OFF F SEMI-FINAL

SLOVAKIA v IRELAND

MATCH FACTS

This is the sixth international between Ireland and Slovakia. Steve Staunton took four points from the Slovaks in the Euro 2008 campaign and it could have been six only for a last-minute concession in Bratislava - a game which was quickly overshadowed by Stephen Ireland's departure from the international scene immediately afterwards. Both games in Euro 2012 qualifying finished in draws but Giovanni Trapattoni had the last laugh as a catastrophic Slovakian defeat to Armenia allowed Ireland into the play-offs. The last meeting was a friendly as both nations prepared for Euro 2016.

Slovakia debuted as an independent team by attempting to qualify for Euro '96. They made their big breakthrough in 2010 by booking a place at the World Cup in South Africa and left their mark by shocking Italy to qualify for the round of 16 - where they lost to Holland. The Slovaks reached the Euros in 2016, losing to Germany in the first knockout phase while they finished runners-up in their World Cup 2018 group but missed out on a play-off as the worst runners up.

It is striking to look at the last meeting between the sides and contrast how players' careers have gone in various directions. James McCarthy has been absent for most of the past four years yet it's plausible he will be the only player to start tonight who was selected in Martin O'Neill's XI for that game. He was partnered in midfield that evening by Eunan O'Kane, who failed to push on from his first start and is now seeking to rebuild his career at Luton following a luckless run with injuries. Keeper Rob Elliot was carried off in that game with a serious knee injury that halted his career with club and country; he's not played for Ireland since that setback cost him a Euros jaunt.

Slovakia's star came backack from China plenty early to ensurensure he had no travel issues, having missed the September mber window. He remainsns an important creative force ce for his country even though he's now 33 and in the veteran category. McCarthy turns 30 laterter this year and is seeking to begin a second chapter in his Ireland career. The Glaswegianian will need to patrol the space ace that Hamsik plans to inhabit. habit.