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Among the different zones, UEFA has the most representation - with 9 nations having already qualified and eight runner-ups in the first round of qualification battling it out to fill the final four places via the playoffs.
World Champions Germany, as well as former champions France, England and Spain, are already through with surprise packages like Iceland and Serbia joining them. However, four-time champions Italy's fate is still in limbo and the Italians have a tough opponent to navigate past in the playoff round.
The playoff draw came out on Wednesday and the most mouthwatering clash is undoubtedly the Italy vs Sweden matchup. Both British teams in the mix have promising draws, with Northern Ireland challenging Switzerland whereas the Irish Republic takes on Denmark.
The final clash will see Croatia - who saw Iceland pip them to an automatic qualification spot - start as heavy favourites against Greece.
As the world holds its breath in anticipation, here is a list that takes a look at the top 5 previous playoff round fixtures in the European zone.
#5 France 2-1 Republic of Ireland (2010)
The match that led to widespread calls for better technology to be used at International matches saw France sneak past the Irish Republic 2-1 on aggregate en route to reaching the 2010 World Cup main draw.
France had won the first leg at Croke Park 1-0 and the Irish were hardly expected to beat the French at the Stade de France in the second leg. However, a mere 33 minutes into the second leg, Robbie Keane scored to cancel out Ireland's deficit.
The tie was evenly poised and the match went to extra time. In the 103rd minute, Florent Malouda sent a freekick deep into the Irish penalty area aimed at Thierry Henry. Henry handled the ball twice with his left hand before providing a cross on a platter for William Gallas who calmly headed the ball into Shay Given's net.
Neither the referee nor the other officials noticed the handball and the French went to the World Cup. The aftermath saw FIFA set up an inquiry into the options for technology or extra officials on the pitch, whereas the Irish FA tried to persuade FIFA to send Ireland to the World Cup as well, suggesting a ludicrous 33 team tournament - the idea was promptly rejected by FIFA.
However, the governing body did pay the Irish FA €5 million to prevent any legal action. In scant consolation to Ireland, France would crash out of the world cup in the first round, even suffering an embarrassing defeat at the hands of South Africa.
#4 Yugoslavia 12-1 Hungary (1998)
No controversies here - the 1998 Playoff tie between Yugoslavia and Hungary finds a place in this list purely because of the thrashing the Hungarians received.
It wasn't much of a surprise as the Yugoslavians had a strong squad and were considered to be one of the dark horses for the World Cup if they could get there. The team comprising of Savo Milosevic and Dejan Savicevic ensured that playoff victory would be a cakewalk for the Balkan nation.
Within ten minutes of the first leg in Hungary, the Yugoslavians were already 3-0 up and then they started to kick it up a notch. Reigning Ballon d'Or runner-up Peda Mijatovic would score another three goals in 25 minutes followed by another from Savo Milosevic as the Hungarians were humbled 1-7.
Hatrick hero Mijatovic would score another four goals to squash the Hungarians 5-0 in the second leg at the stadium of the former Champions league winners Red Star Belgrade. All said and done, the Yugoslavians secured a UEFA playoff record 12-1 aggregate victory.
At the World Cup, Yugoslavia would hold Germany to a draw before getting eliminated by the Netherlands in the second round. It would be one of the last major tournaments that the unified Yugoslavia would compete in before partition saw them getting broken up into smaller nations like Serbia, Bosnia and Montenegro.
#3 Belgium 3-2 Republic of Ireland (1998)
Another heartbreak for the Irish: 12 years before Thierry Henry denied them a chance to go to the 2010 World Cup, Ireland were left to rue another case of 'what might have been', after going down 2-1 on aggregate to Belgium in the playoff for a spot in the 1998 World Cup.
The Irish had been pushed down to second place in their qualification group by a rampant Romania whereas Belgium had seen their hopes of automatic progression hindered at the hands of the Dutch by a single point.
The Irish were considered to be the favourites in the playoff and Denis Irwin fired them into the lead within six minutes of the first leg in Dublin. PSV striker Luc Nilis would tie the score for Belgium and the match finished 1-1.
Belgium had to win or settle for a goalless draw in Brussels to progress and they seemed to be gunning for the death shot as Luis Oliveira put them 1-0 up on 25 minutes. The Irish were still confident and just before the hour mark, Ray Houghton equalised.
A further goal from Ireland would have meant that Belgium would need to score twice to progress, but it never came to that.
12 minutes later, Nilis once again propped up to dash Ireland's hopes and send Belgium to the World Cup 3-2 on aggregate where they gamely managed to draw all three games before exiting in the first round.
#2 France 3-2 Ukraine (2014)
What is it with France and their luck in World Cup playoffs?
After being dumped to the 2014 UEFA playoffs by reigning World Champions Spain, France drew Ukraine for the tie. The first leg at the Olympic Stadium in Kiev saw the French having nightmares about their pathetic performance at the previous World Cup.
After a goalless first half, Roman Zozulya and Andriy Yarmolenko scored for Ukraine in a 2-0 victory which saw the French World Cup hopes hanging by a thread. The French needed a victory by three clear goals in the return leg to qualify for the World Cup, and the Irish, at least, were hoping for poetic justice to catch up to France.
But, in front of a roaring Saint-Denis crowd, France jumped to a 2-0 lead within the first 35 minutes. Mamadou Sakho would score his first and France's third goal in the 72nd minute to give Les Blues the victory they needed and a spot in Brazil for the World Cup.
#1 Turkey 4-2 Switzerland (2006)
Undoubtedly the best doubleheader in a UEFA Playoff round was the 2005 clash between Switzerland and Turkey. Reigning World Cup Bronze medallists Turkey had been beaten to the top spot in their qualifying group by Ukraine whereas Switzerland had finished second in their group behind France.
The first leg at Berne was a tight affair, but the Swiss took the lead just before half-time through Philippe Senderos. The match seemed to end 1-0 - a score that the Turks wouldn't have minded much, given the return leg in front of a partisan crowd in Istanbul.
But eight minutes from the end, Valon Behrami stuck another goal past Volkan Demirel and the Rossocrociati geared up for the second leg with a formidable 2-0 lead.
A hostile sea of red greeted the Swiss at the Sukru Saracoglu Stadium of Turkish giants Fenerbahce for the second leg - but before the Turks could get a grip on the game, Switzerland got a penalty courtesy of an Alpay Ozalan handball. Alexander Frei stepped up to put the Swiss in front: 1-0 on the night and 3-0 on aggregate.
Needing four goals to qualify, the Turks seemed to get motivated by the boisterous crowd. Tuncay Sanli beat the Swiss goalkeeper twice with unstoppable headers to cut Turkey's deficit by half before the break.
Seven minutes after the restart, luck shone on the Turks as they were awarded a penalty kick. Necati Ates made no mistake from the spot and Switzerland's position was becoming increasingly precarious.
They courageously held on for another half hour before getting their share of fortune in the 84th minute. A lapse in concentration from the Turkey defence saw Marcos Streller receiving a pass clear on goal. The then Stuttgart man made the most of the rare opportunity to make the aggregate score 4-3 in favour of the Swiss.
The 'Away goals' rule meant that Turkey needed a further two goals to progress and the excellent Tuncay scored his third of the night a minute shy of the ninety to give the Turks some hope.
However, it was too little too late as the Swiss defence held firm in injury time and Turkey were eliminated on away goals despite winning the leg 4-2. They didn't go quietly though - a mass brawl took place in the players' tunnel followed by scenes of violence outside the stadium.
The Swiss went on to give a great account of themselves at the World Cup, topping a group consisting of France and finishing the tournament without conceding a single goal. They were eliminated by Ukraine in the second round on penalties.
