Republic of Ireland v Bosnians background

The Republic of Ireland will hope to make it to their second successive UEFA European Championship as their play-off against Bosnia and Herzegovina concludes.

Previous meetings
• Robbie Brady gave Ireland the lead with eight minutes left of the first leg in Zenica, but Edin Džeko's swift riposte ensured the scores are level heading into the decider in Dublin.

• The sides' sole previous meeting before this play-off tie was a 2012 friendly in Dublin, Shane Long scoring in a 1-0 win for the Irish.

Form guide
• Ireland are unbeaten in six competitive home games (W4 D2) since a 2-1 loss to Sweden in September 2013; the Bosnians' away record in UEFA EURO 2016 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
• Ireland's John O'Shea and Jonathan Walters are available again after serving suspensions in the first leg.

• Bosnia and Herzegovina's Muhamed Bešić completed a three-game suspension in Zenica.

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.

• In the only 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.