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Sunday, June 6

Main talking points ahead of this week's Euro 2020 playoff semi-finals

:Headline: Main talking points ahead of this week's Euro 2020 playoff semi-finals: ID:417580: from db_amp
Seven months after they were meant to be played, the Euro 2020 play-off semi-finals will take place this week.

Qualification for Euro 2020 will resume this week with the hopes of some countries set to end after Thursday's play-off matches.

The Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland and Scotland are all involved and will aim to take another step towards joining England and Wales at next summer's delayed tournament.

Here, the PA news agency takes a look at the key issues surrounding the four play-off semi-finals due to be played this week.

A repeat of 1993?

The Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland are in action on Thursday and, if they win in Slovakia and Bosnia-Herzegovina respectively, it will set up a winner-takes-all clash at Windsor Park in November. If that is the case, it will bring back memories of a similar game 27 years ago when Jack Charlton guided his Republic side to a 1-1 draw which saw them qualify for the 1994 World Cup. With new managers in charge of both, there is plenty at stake.

Scotland need to hold their nerve

Scotland and Israel faced off at Hampden Park last month and it finished 1-1 in the Nations League group tie (Andrew Milligan/PA)

It has been a torrid couple of decades for Scotland and they could only watch on with envy when all of the home nations took part in Euro 2016. Steve Clarke's team have the chance to make up for it, and in order to do so must first negotiate a play-off semi-final against Israel at Hampden Park. These sides only met last month in the Nations League, but a 1-1 draw will not do this time. Ryan Fraser is back in the fold and Scotland will be aiming to build on a five-match unbeaten run.

Can Erling fire the Vikings to glory?

It has been a remarkable few years for Iceland. After they knocked England out of Euro 2016, they followed it up with a first ever World Cup appearance in Russia two years ago. Now under the management of Erik Hamren, he will aim to make it three consecutive showings on the world stage, but has to overcome Romania this week and then the winner of Bulgaria and Hungary in November.

Door opened for minnows

Kosovo have made a big impact since they were accepted in UEFA in 2016 (Steven Paston/PA)

Iceland's surprise victory over England was a case of David versus Goliath and more shocks could be on the cards next summer with a minnow set to qualify for a major tournament for the first time. Georgia and Belarus do battle on Thursday and will face the winner of North Macedonia and Kosovo, who meet on the same night. The four are all vying for history and highlight the opportunities the Nations League set-up can produce.

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Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
CManchester CityMan City38275683325186
2Manchester UnitedMan Utd382111673442974
3Liverpool38209968422669
4Chelsea381910958362267
5Leicester CityLeicester382061268501866
6West Ham UnitedWest Ham381981162471565
7Tottenham HotspurSpurs381881268452362
8Arsenal381871355391661
9Leeds UnitedLeeds38185156254859
10Everton38178134748-159
11Aston Villa38167155546955
12Newcastle UnitedNewcastle38129174662-1645
13Wolverhampton WanderersWolves38129173652-1645
14Crystal Palace38128184166-2544
15Southampton38127194768-2143
16Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton38914154046-641
17Burnley38109193355-2239
RFulham38513202753-2628
RWest Bromwich AlbionWest Brom38511223576-4126
RSheffield UnitedSheff Utd3872292063-4323
Scroll for more - Tap for full version
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