Bosnians v Republic of Ireland background

Bosnia and Herzegovina will look to make it to their first UEFA European Championship as they take on the Republic of Ireland in the play-offs.

Previous meetings
The sides' only previous meeting was a 2012 Dublin friendly, Shane Long scoring in a 1-0 win for the Irish.

Form guide
• Bosnia and Herzegovina enter the play-offs on a three-game competitive winning streak.

• The Bosnians are unbeaten in four competitive home matches (W3 D1); Ireland's away record in qualifying was W2 D1 L2.

• The Bosnians lost their sole previous UEFA European Championship play-off, their bid to reach UEFA EURO 2012 foundering as they crashed 6-2 to Portugal after a 0-0 draw at home.

• They also missed out to Portugal in their only FIFA World Cup play-off, going down 1-0 home and away to be denied a place at the 2010 finals.

• The Republic of Ireland have featured in three EURO play-offs, losing two and winning one. They succumbed 2-0 to the Netherlands at Anfield in the first-ever EURO play-off, with EURO '96 qualification at stake. They then sat out UEFA EURO 2000 after an away goals defeat by Turkey in the play-offs.

• Ireland broke their duck third time out, beating Estonia 5-1 on aggregate to proceed to UEFA EURO 2012.

• The Irish have also been involved in three World Cup play-offs (W1 L2). They lost to Belgium (2-3 agg 1998) and France (1-2 agg 2010), but overcame Iran 2-1 on aggregate to advance to the 2002 finals.

Disciplinary
• Bosnia and Herzegovina's Muhamed Bešić completes a three-game suspension in the first leg; Asmir Begović, Edin Džeko, Anel Hadžić, Miralem Pjanić, Emir Spahić and Toni Šunjić are all within a yellow card of a ban.

• Ireland's John O'Shea and Jonathan Walters are banned for the first leg, the latter having collected three yellow cards during the qualfying group stage while O'Shea was sent off against Poland last time out. Seamus Coleman, Wes Hoolahan, James McCarthy, Glenn Whelan and Marc Wilson will all incur a suspension with their next bookings.

Trivia and links
• Bosnia and Herzegovina came third in Group B behind Belgium and Wales. The Republic of Ireland finished behind Germany and Poland in Group D.

• The Bosnians have never qualified for a EURO but memorably went to their first major tournament in Brazil two summers ago.

• Ireland made their EURO finals debut in 1988; they got to their second finals via the play-offs but lost all three UEFA EURO 2012 group stage games.

• Robbie Keane hit five goals in this qualifying campaign and is now fifth in the list of Europe's all-time leading international scorers. He has struck 67 times in 143 appearances.

• Ireland midfielder James McCarthy turns 25 on 12 November.

• In the lone UEFA meeting between the nations' clubs, Saint Patrick's Athletic FC squeezed past NK Široki Brijeg 3-2 on aggregate in the 2012/13 UEFA Europa League second qualifying round.