Key events
Czech Republic v Republic of Ireland teams
Czech Republic: Kovar, Holes, Hranac, Krejci, Coufal, Provod, Darida, Jurasek, Schick, Chory, Sulc
Subs: Hornicek, Jedlicka, Chaloupek, Vitik, Karabec, Kliment, Cerv, Chytil, Sadilek, Zeleny, Visinsky, Soucek
Republic of Ireland: Kelleher, O’Brien, Collins, O’Shea, Coleman, Taylor, Molumby, Manning, Azaz, Ogbene, Parrott
Subs: Keeley, Travers, Kenny, Idah, Brady, Dunne, Vale, Egan, Knight, Browne, Abankwah, Szmodics
Ukraine v Sweden teams
Ukraine: Trubin, Tymchyk, Zabarnyi, Bondar, Mykolenko, Kaliuzhnyi, Tsygankov, Yarmoliuk, Sudakov, Zubkov, Vanat
Subs: Neshcheret, Riznyk, Sarapii, Mykhailichenko, Svatok, Voloshyn, Hutsuliak, Pikhalonok, Yaremchuk, Shaparenko, Ponomarenko, Ocheretko
Sweden: Nordfeldt, Lagerbielke, Hien, Lindelöf, Gudmundsson, Johansson, Ayari, Karlström, Nygren, Elanga, Gyökeres
Subs: Törnqvist, Ellborg, Bergvall, Svensson, Nilsson, Smith, Bardghji, Starfelt, Svanberg, Larsson, Ali, Zeneli
Poland v Albania teams
Poland: Grabara, Kedziora, Bednarek, Kiwior, Cash, Szymanski, Zielinski, Skoras, Kaminski, Lewandowski, Rozga
Subs: Pietuszewski, Ziolkowski, Wisniewski, Slisz, Pyrka, Swiderski, Piatek, Kochalski, Moder, Bereszynski, Grosicki, Dragowski
Albania: Strakosha, Hysaj, Ajeti, Djimsiti, Mitaj, Laci, Asilani, Bajrami, Shehu, Uzuni, Hoxha
Subs: Ramadani, Pllana, Pilo, Pajaziti, Muci, Mehmeti, Kastrati, Ismajli, Dajsinani, Broja, Balliu, Aliji
“Do you know why I’m so calm? Because we’re such a good team.” Craig Bellamy never made it to a major tournament with Wales as a player – can he do it as the head coach?
GOAL! Turkey 1-0 Romania (Kadioglu 53)
We have our first of the night. Arda Guler is the creator for Turkey, cutting in from the right to whip a delicious ball into the area. Ferdi Kadioglu, the left-back, makes an excellent run and pulls off an even better first touch before slotting in through the keeper’s legs.
Turkey v Romania: The second half is underway in Istanbul, the game still goalless. Mircea Lucescu, who captained Romania against Brazil in 1970, is still in the hunt for another World Cup appearance. What a life.
Rob Smyth’s preview on Football Daily is the best out there.
Preamble
Get all your screens up and try not to strain that neck – it’s World Cup playoff time. Sixteen teams are competing for the four remaining European spots at this summer’s tournament, with tonight’s eight semi-finals followed by the last dance next Tuesday. Feast your eyes on this:
Turkey v Romania
Czech Republic v Republic of Ireland
Denmark v North Macedonia
Italy v Northern Ireland
Poland v Albania
Slovakia v Kosovo
Ukraine v Sweden
Wales v Bosnia-Herzegovina
Scott Murray has the Italy-Northern Ireland clash covered, but the rest falls under my jurisdiction. Can the Republic of Ireland continue their remarkable resurgence and end their 24-year wait? North Macedonia, Albania and Kosovo have never made it to the biggest show. Graham Potter’s Sweden are here despite not winning a game in qualifying. Edin Dzeko, 40 years young, is still ticking along for Bosnia-Herzegovina. There’s plenty to get stuck into.
Turkey have already kicked off against Romania, with the remaining fixtures beginning at 7.45pm GMT. Let’s go.
