Euro 2012 preview: Ronaldo key for Portugal, Montenegro face Czech test

In what looms as the toughest of Euro 2012 playoff qualifiers on Friday, Bosnia-Herzegovina take on Portugal in the first leg in Zenica.

Bosnia were just 12 minutes away from clinching an automatic qualifying berth before Samir Nasir s late penalty for France in a 1-1 draw between the sides gave Les Bleus the edge in Group D.

Portugal suffered a similar fate, losing their right to automatic promotion following a shock 2-1 loss to Denmark in their final group-stage game.

Manager Paulo Bento has recalled Hugo Almeida, Fabio Coentrao and Pepe to the squad. Jose Bosingwa is left out while Bosnia will be missing Mensur Mujdza through injury.

Manchester City target man Edin Dzeko holds the key for Bosnia while Cristiano Ronaldo, fresh from a fourth hat-trick this season in a 7-1 win against Osasuna in La Liga on Sunday, will be Portugal s go-to man once again.

The Czech Republic take on Montenegro for the first time with the first leg at Prague s Sparta Stadium.

Branko Boskovic is back from injury for Montenegro and manager Branko Brnovic will be eager for the 31-year-old DC United midfielder to play a part if he is up to it. Marko Basa, however, will be out with a shoulder injury.

Tomas Rosicky will be back in midfield for the Czech Republic but manager Michel Bilek will be without midfielder Tomas Hubschman, who is suspended for both matches.

The Czech Republic has qualified for every European Championship since its inception in 1993 and will be favoured to do so again this time.

Croatia travel away to take on Turkey in this first leg of their playoff at Ataturk Stadium. Croatia manager Slaven Bilic has called up Ivica Olic and Danijel Pranjic of Bayern Munich as Mladen Petric, Niko Kranjcar and Ivan Strinic are all injured.

Dinamo Zagreb skipper Mlan Badelj and striker Ivan Klasnic of Bolton Wanderers have been left out.

Strinic will be badly missed as this series is likely to go down to the wire with the two sides evenly matched.

Estonia kick off their playoff ties against Ireland at home at A. LeCoq Arena. Estonia took second place in Group C after Serbia lost to Slovenia 1-0, with Serbia finishing one point behind in third with 15 points.

Ireland clinched second place in Group B with 21 points after beating third-placed Armenia at home in their final game.

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