Football
ESPN staff 9y

Euro 2016 draw: Sweden face Denmark, Bosnia draw Ireland

Sweden were pitted against Scandinavian rivals Denmark in the Euro 2016 playoff draw, while Republic of Ireland are to face Bosnia-Herzegovina.

In the other ties, Ukraine drew Slovenia, while Norway take on Hungary.

Sweden, semifinalists at Euro 1992, last failed to secure a place at the finals in 1996, but they missed out on the last two World Cups, and captain Zlatan Ibrahimovic recently said: "It's unimaginable for me to see this tournament going on without me."

Sweden finished third behind Austria and Russia in qualification Group G, and face a Denmark side that ended their Group I campaign behind Portugal and Albania.

The two nations have met 104 times, with Sweden winning 45 and Denmark 40.

Bosnia-Herzegovina, who are yet to feature at a European Championship, finished third in Group B, behind Belgium and Wales, while Martin O'Neill's Ireland side trailed world champions Germany and Poland in Group D.

"If there is any slight advantage to be had for us it's that the second game is in Dublin," O'Neill told UEFA's official website. "We need to perform out in Bosnia to make sure that the second game in Dublin means something. We have a chance.

"We have some problems to negotiate with suspensions and who knows what will happen in the next few weeks, injury is always a possibility, but we will go for it and give it everything we've got.

"We had terrific results against Germany, the draw out in Germany and a home win, and because that's so recent we can draw real confidence from it."

Ukraine, the Euro 2012 co-hosts, drew Slovenia and will be seeking revenge after losing their playoff to the same opponents ahead of Euro 2000.

Slovenia, who also reached the 2002 and 2010 World Cups, have claimed two wins and two draws from their four meetings with Ukraine to date.

Norway, meanwhile, take on Hungary as they seek to reach a major tournament for the first time since Euro 2000, having just missed out on automatic qualification for France in a group also containing Italy and Croatia.

Hungary, who last reached a major tournament in 1986, have won six and lost five of their 16 previous games against Norway but last secured victory over them in 1981.

First legs: 12/13/14 November 2015
Second legs: 15/16/17 November 2015

Euro 2016 playoff ties:

Information from the Press Association was used in this report.

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