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Euro 2012 play-offs, second legs: Ronaldo confident Portugal can progress to finals

The other play-off matches and how they might pan out

Tue Nov 15 2011 - 00:00

The other play-off matches and how they might pan out

Portugal (0) Bosnia-Herzegovina (0)

PORTUGAL captain Cristiano Ronaldo believes his side’s bold performance on a difficult pitch in Zenica last week will inspire them to overpower Bosnia at home tonight.

The two-legged play-off is wide open but the Portuguese are confident they will make the most of home advantage after the Bilino Polje stadium’s swampy pitch stopped them converting their control of the match into a win. “That wasnt grass, we played on a vegetable patch,” Ronaldo said.

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“Maybe the Portuguese think we will be easier opponents on a better surface but we won’t. The fact is that we are also looking forward to playing on a quality pitch,” Bosnia striker Edin Dzeko said.

Montenegro (0) Czech Republic (2)

MONTENEGRO can overcome the 2-0 first-leg deficit against the Czech Republic and qualify for the finals, coach Branko Brnovic said, admitting that some people might dismiss his confidence as “crazy”.

We were able to erase a 2-0 deficit against England in just 45 minutes so I am sure we can do it over 90 minutes against the Czechs, who are not in the same quality bracket with the English, Brnovic said.

Czech hopes of advancing to next years tournament in Poland and Ukraine will rest on the good form of versatile Arsenal midfielder Tomas Rosicky, who pulled the strings in midfield and gave his markers a roasting in the first leg.

Croatia (3) Turkey (0)

ANY premature celebrations over a 3-0 win in Turkey in the first leg could be fatal for Croatia and invite history to repeat itself, coach Slaven Bilic said yesterday. Although they have one foot in next years finals the Croatians will take nothing for granted. Although he will miss suspended defender Vedran Corluka and midfielder Tomislav Dujmovic, Bilic has plenty to choose from in a squad eager to kickstart a party in Zagreb’s Maksimir stadium. Ivan Perisic could be preferred to veteran striker Ivica Olic.

Unlike Bilic, his Turkey counterpart Guus Hiddink has limited options with four key players suspended and defender Giray Kacar sidelined with a groin strain.