Just in case you are wondering why many countries are very happy to escape the playoffs with a straight qualification into the group stages of the World Cup, see the draws for European countries below and imagine that only four of them will be going to Russia in 2018.
Northern Ireland – Switzerland
Croatia – Greece
Denmark – Republic of Ireland
Italy – Sweden
Despite getting to the playoffs at the expense of Netherlands, Sweden have a very big test on their hands as the face Italy for the 24th time and they have won only six of their encounters with the Azurri’s having won eleven.
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