Jack Leahy
Sports Editor
The Republic of Ireland have been drawn against Estonia in their Euro 2012 play-off, with the first game to be held in Talinn on the 11th or 12th of November.
The second leg will be played at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium on November 15th.
Manager Giovanni Trappatoni will no doubt be pleased with the favourable draw, which also paired 2004 hosts Portugal against Bosnia-Herzegovina, Turkey against Croatia, and the Czech Republic against Montenegro.
Ireland, whose last play-off appearance ended in controversy after an apparent hand-ball from Thierry Henry gave France an undeserved win, will hope to improve on a record that has seen them win just one of five previous play-offs. They beat Iran 2-1 on aggregate in 2002 to qualify for the World Cup, but are yet to qualify for a major international tournament since.
