During the national teams break, four teams will join the twenty teams that have already qualified for the European Championship by playing additional qualifying matches. In the last three days, the first matches were played, and now the teams will play the return matches, after which all the participants of the tournament will be clarified. When will the return matches take place, what can be expected in these matches, and who are the favorites of these matches - in this "Eurofootball.com" article.
Will Hungary maintain the advantage gained in the away game?
First match: Norway 0 - 1 Hungary
In the first match at home, Norway had the initiative, controlled the ball longer, made almost four times as many shots as the opponents (22-6), but did not score goals and lost minimally.
For Norwegians, the end of this qualifying for the European Championship is simply tragic. Before the last group stage round, they had a two-point lead over Croatia, and in the match against Italy, they were leading until the 73rd minute. However, after conceding two goals in the remaining time, they fell to third place and were forced to play additional matches. Now, losing the first match, Norwegian footballers have nowhere else to go, and Hungary will have to beat them at least twice.
In order to maintain a positive result, Hungarian footballers will once again use the strongest weapon of their national team - a solid defense. In the first nine qualifying matches, they conceded only 5 goals, and this indicator deteriorated only in the match against Greece, where they allowed the opponents to score four times.
Before the first confrontation of these national teams, Norwegian footballers were considered favorites. After Hungary's victory in the away game, the roles of the teams changed, but both teams are heading to Budapest with the goal of reaching the European Championship. If Hungary can celebrate the goal advantage, their opponents will go to visit them aiming to continue the same game as in the second half, where they dominated the opponents in all statistical categories (Ball possession 68% - 32%, shots 11-1, corner kicks 11-0). It is currently really difficult to predict the outcome of the match and the owner of the ticket to the European Championship.
Time and place of the return match: Sunday 21:45 in Budapest, Hungary.
Which team plays better when there is no smoke on the field?
First match: Bosnia and Herzegovina 1 - 1 Ireland
The first match between the national teams of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Ireland is most remembered for the smoke lingering on the field rather than the performance of both teams or late goals. Considering this aspect, the match in Ireland should be completely different.
The first match at home for the Bosnian team could have ended much sadder. Although their superiority on the field was felt, very little was missing for the Irish to take a victory home - they took the lead after a goal in the 82nd minute, but just three minutes later Edin Džeko equalized the match result. Džeko's plan in this qualifying cycle is working really well - the attacker has scored eight goals in the group, and adding one in the first match, he will chase the tenth in the return match. If the Bosnian leader does not stop in this match, their chances in Ireland will be certain.
Ireland should be satisfied with the outcome of the first match. Although the opponents equalized the result, a goalless draw is certainly not a bad result when playing away. The Irish national team is made up of almost exclusively players playing in England and led by experienced coach Martin O'Neill, ready to prove that they are ready to qualify for the European Championship for the third time. Especially since a victory in the qualifying matches would not be a new experience for them - four years ago, they qualified for the European finals precisely by playing an additional match and beating the Estonian national team 5 - 1.
In this match, the hosts would like a repeat of the previous qualifying scenario, when Ireland celebrated victory in the qualifying matches, and the Bosnians were forced to admit defeat and miss the European Championship. The teams demonstrate slightly different tactics - the Irish rely more on team play, and their opponents' game is focused on offensive leader Džeko. Although the hosts are considered not-so-likely favorites for this match, Edin Džeko is the man who can change the course of the match and finally lead his national team to the first European Championship.
Time and place of the return match: Monday 21:45 in Dublin, Ireland.
Will Ukraine maintain the advantage gained at home this time?
First match: Ukraine 2 - 0 Slovenia
Of all the qualifying matches, in this match, there is a clear favorite to qualify for the European Championship - the Ukrainian national team. In the first match at home, they convincingly proved their advantage against Slovenia and led by a two-goal margin in the away game.
The first mutual match went exactly as Ukraine planned. The opponents did not pose any threat to the home team's goal, and the goals from Yarmolenko and Seleznyov gave a tangible advantage. Ukrainians should feel confident in their strength, and it is hard to imagine that they would overturn a two-goal deficit away.
The statistics of the matches held in Ukraine speak for themselves - Slovenia did not make a single shot on goal throughout the match. Despite the struggle in the group against the Lithuanian national team, changing all three attacking plan players during the match did not help the Slovenians. In order to change the course of this qualifying match, Slovenia will have to demonstrate a completely different game at home.
It could be said that everything is almost clear in this match, but recent experience, which the Ukrainians themselves have experienced, does not allow to do so. Two years ago, in the World Cup playoffs, they also won the first match 2-0, but in the return match, they lost 0-3 and had to watch the tournament on TV. Of course, the Slovenian national team is not equal to the French who achieved such a result two years ago, but there have been many more unexpected things in football.
Time and place of the return match: Tuesday 21:45 in Maribor, Slovenia.
Ibrahimovič or Bendtner? Who will win the Scandinavian match?
First match: Sweden 2 - 1 Denmark
In the Scandinavian national teams match, the duel between the attackers Zlatan Ibrahimović and Nicklas Bendtner of these teams was emphasized. In the last match, Ibrahimović and his Sweden national team were more successful - Ibra scored from a penalty kick, and the Swedes won a minimal victory.
The experienced Sweden national team is determined to qualify for the fifth consecutive European Championship. Although they only managed to reach the quarter-finals once in the previous four tournaments, this time the Swedes want to show that this is not the limit of this generation's possibilities. Especially since the whole of Sweden understands that this could be the last tournament where Ibrahimović will play. He is already 34 years old, and neither he nor the Sweden national team can wait another four years until the next continental championship.
Although Denmark lost the first match, they can be satisfied that they return with only a one-goal deficit - ten minutes before the end of the match, Sweden led by two goals. In order to beat the opponents at home and advance to the European Championship, the Danes first and foremost need a better performance from Christian Eriksen. Playing at home, the goalkeeper must be the best player on the field and prove why he is highly regarded at Tottenham Hotspur.
These national teams will face each other for the 106th time in their countries' history, and this match will certainly be memorable for both teams. Although Denmark has all the chances to qualify at home, the Swedes will do everything to give Ibrahimović another chance to shine in the European Championship. Sweden is a more experienced team, and this could be another advantage over the opponents, which could help them leave Copenhagen with a ticket to the 2016 continental championships.
Time and place of the return match: Tuesday 21:45 in Copenhagen, Denmark.
