Slovakia have been given until December 20 to decide whether to host the Republic of Ireland in Trnava or Bratislava next March as Uefa yesterday continued planning for the Euro 2020 play-off draw on Friday morning. Three years later, Zilnia was the venue for Ireland’s second visit to Slovakia, when a 1-1 draw helped Giovanni Trapattoni’s team towards the finals of Euro 2012. Four of those meetings have been drawn, however, including three in qualifying competition (0-0 in Dublin, 2-2 and 1-1 in Slovakia). But Wales’ win rendered that scenario redundant, leaving Path B one-leg semi-finals pitting Slovakia against Ireland, with Bosnia-Herzegovina hosting Northern Ireland. Ireland’s possible opponentsIreland’s semi-final opponents: Slovakia (Fifa World Ranking 31)Euro qualifications: 1 (2016)Star player: Marek Hamsik (Dalian Yifang, PR China).

Source: Irish Examiner November 19, 2019 22:52 UTC