Seeded teams not guaranteed second leg at home

The Republic of Ireland will be seeded for tomorrow’s Euro 2012 play-off – but will not be guaranteed playing the second leg at home.

Giovanni Trapattoni’s men will not have to face the other seeded teams, Portugal, Croatia and the Czech Republic, who were selected on the basis on UEFA’s national team coefficients.

Their opponents in the draw in Krakow will be chosen from Turkey, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Estonia and Montenegro, who are the four unseeded teams.

Seeded teams will no longer be guaranteed the second leg at home however - ironically that rule was scrapped after the Republic’s controversial defeat to France in the 2010 World Cup play-off. That will now be decided by the luck of the draw as well.

The draw ceremony takes place at noon tomorrow Irish Time and will be conducted by UEFA general secretary Gianni Infantino and legendary Poland striker Zbigniew Boniek, one of the final tournament ambassadors.

Already through to the finals, alongside co-hosts Poland and Ukraine, are England, holders Spain, Germany, Russia, Italy, France, Holland, Greece, Denmark and best runners-up Sweden.

The finals draw is on December 2 in Kiev and the tournament runs from June 8 until July 1 next year at eight venues.