Ties on a knife-edge

Tuesday sees the conclusion of five UEFA European Under-21 Championship play-offs with the ties between England and the Netherlands and Portugal and Spain on a knife-edge.

Advantage to the English
The first leg between the Dutch and the English in Utrecht finished level at 2-2. Scoring twice in the Netherlands means England have the advantage ahead of the second encounter at Pride Park stadium, Derby.

Away goals count
The away-goal rule favours England but coach David Platt is determined not to think negatively. “We know if it finishes 0-0 or 1-1 that we are through but we will go out to win the game and play the way we want to play,” he said. Platt will also be boosted by the news that defender John Terry and forward Malcolm Christie are expected to be fit for what promises to be a tense evening, despite picking up knocks in the Netherlands during Friday’s first leg.

All-Iberian encounter
The all-Iberian encounter at the Municipal de São Luís promises to be an equally tight affair. A late goal from Xisco gave Spain a 2-1 home win over Portugal in the first leg on Saturday, but the Portuguese know that a 1-0 win would be enough to send them through on away goals.

Finely balanced
Another finely balanced tie will be concluded at the Jules Ottenstadion in Ghent as Belgium look to overhaul a 2-1 first-leg deficit against Sweden. Christian Wilhelmsson’s late winner gave the Swedes that slender advantage which will be tough to defend against a dogged Belgian outfit, Meanwhile, the Czech Republic will be favourites to progress after Saturday's 1-1 away draw with Croatia. The return takes place at the Na Stínadlech stadium in Teplice.

Greece and Italy in control
The two other ties due to be concluded on Tuesday will require remarkable turnarounds if the first-leg victors are not to progress. Greece travel to the Ismet Pasa in Izmit to face Turkey with a 3-0 cushion. Meanwhile the reigning under-21 champions of Europe Italy will play host to Poland in the Oreste Granillo stadium, Reggio Calabria with a 5-2 lead from the first leg.

Play-off rules
Unlike the 2002 FIFA World Cup play-offs the golden goal rule does not apply to UEFA European Under-21 Championship play-offs. If the scores are level at 90 minutes the team with the greater number of away goals will progress. If away goals are also level 30 minutes of extra-time will be played, with no golden goal, and if the sides can still not be separated the game will be decided by penalties.