Euro 2016 play-off draw: Republic of Ireland face Bosnia-Herzegovina after tough draw

The first leg ties will be played between 12-14 November, with the return matches on 15, 16 and 17 November

Ireland captain Robbie Keane (Getty Images)

The Republic of Ireland will tackle Bosnia-Herzegovina for a place in the European Championships next year as the play-offs kick off.

The first leg ties will be played between 12-14 November, with the return matches on 15, 16 and 17 November.

Martin O'Neill's side finished third in Group D, behind world champions Germany and Poland - putting them into a two-legged knockout against a fellow third-placed side.

Opponents Bosnia were the next-best team, finishing third in Group B behind Belgium and Wales after drawing 0-0 against Chris Coleman's side in Cardiff before winning 2-0 at home.

Ireland's only previous meeting with Bosnia was a 1-0 friendly win in 2012, with Shane Long scoring the only goal.

Meanwhile, in other ties, Sweden was drawn against their Scandinavian neighbours Denmark, Ukraine will play Slovenia and Norway is to face Hungary.

Edin Dzeko in actin for Bosnia (Getty Images)

They are all competing for one of the final four spots left for the taking ahead of the Euro 2016.

Hungary and Norway will both be playing for a return from the international wilderness - Hungary has not been in a major tournament since the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, and the Norwegians have been out of major tournaments since the 1998 World Cup. Elsewhere, Sweden will be at home in the first leg against their Scandinavian neighbour, Denmark.

"If there is any slight advantage to be had for us it's that the second game is in Dublin," O'Neill told uefa.com.

"We need to perform out in Bosnia to make sure that the second game in Dublin means something. We have a chance.

"We have some problems to negotiate with suspensions and who knows what will happen in the next few weeks, injury is always a possibility, but we will go for it and give it everything we've got.

"We had terrific results against Germany, the draw out in Germany and a home win, and because that's so recent we can draw real confidence from it."