Italy face old foes in play-offs

Two-time UEFA European Women's Championship runners-up Italy will face the Czech Republic after the draw was made for the play-offs with the tie between Ukraine and Slovenia guaranteeing first-time qualifiers.

Azzurre obstacle
The winners of the five two-legged ties on 25/26 and 29/30 October will progress to UEFA WOMEN'S EURO 2009™ in Finland next summer. Italy, 1993 and 1997 finalists and among six group runners-up, will travel in their first leg to the side they beat to qualify for the 2005 edition, the Czech Republic, themselves one of the four best third-placed teams. Ukraine, last in the 2001 play-offs and only just pipped to automatic qualification by Denmark this time, take on Slovenia.

Russia meet Scotland
Of the two other teams beaten in the 2005 play-offs, Russia have been drawn against Scotland while 1995 quarter-finalists Iceland play the Republic of Ireland. In one tie already known before the draw, the two lowest-ranked runners-up Spain and the Netherlands are matched, with Spain having home advantage in the first leg.

Finals
All five play-off winners join hosts Finland and qualifying group winners England, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, France and holders Germany in the expanded 12-team draw in Helsinki's Finlandia Hall on 18 November. The finals run from 23 August until 10 September 2009, with matches at the Helsinki Football Stadium and Olympic Stadium in the capital, Tampere, Turku and Lahti.