Handballs, Hat-Tricks and Shootouts: Key Moments from Past Play-off Ties

The international break is upon us, but it's not all doom and gloom.

Europe's major leagues might have vanished from our screens for the weekend, but that doesn't mean there's nothing on the line in the internationals that will be played over the coming days.

There are, after all, four more open spots at Euro 2016, and Norway, Hungary, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Republic of Ireland, Ukraine, Sweden, Denmark and Slovenia will be fighting for the right to play in France over the coming six days.

We've taken a trip down memory lane to revisit some famous moments of play-offs past. Irish fans, you might want to look away now. 

Australia 1-0 Uruguay, 2005

The Socceroos are no strangers to qualifying heartbreak, failing to reach the World Cup finals for a barren 30-year spell before they finally ended the drought against Uruguay in 2005.

Mark Bresciano's first-half goal cancelled out Uruguay's first-leg lead, and after two hours of football, the game went to penalties.

Mark Schwarzer and John Aloisi were the heroes in the shootout, sending Australia through to the World Cup in Germany the following summer, where they would be eliminated in controversial fashion by eventual champions Italy in the round of 16.

Turkey 0-0 Republic of Ireland, 1999

Did somebody say heartbreak?

The Republic of Ireland are all too familiar with disappointment at this stage of the qualifiers.

After competing at the 1990 and 1994 World Cups, Ireland were dumped out of the 1996 European Championships qualifiers in a play-off against the Netherlands and suffered a similar fate two years later, this time at the hands of Belgium in a bid to reach the World Cup in France.

In 1999, they were drawn against Turkey and, after a 1-1 result in Dublin, were bundled out on away goals in Bursa after a 0-0 stalemate.

They finally won themselves a play-off tie against Iran in 2001, but it wasn't to be the last time the Irish were left disappointed at the final hurdle...

Sweden 2-3 Portugal, 2013

Sweden's runners-up finish in Group C in qualifying for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil meant they were destined for a play-off tie, and no one was going to stop a rampant Zlatan Ibrahimovic from reaching the World Cup finals.

Except for Cristiano Ronaldo.

In a play-off that will be remembered for two blistering individual performances, Portugal prevailed 3-2 on the night (4-2 on aggregate) thanks to a Ronaldo hat-trick in the second half.

Ibrahimovic had nearly hauled Sweden back into it with two quickfire goals, but he was undone by the Real Madrid man's treble.

Portugal were eliminated from the showpiece in Brazil at the group stage.

Wales 2-0 Israel, 1958

Israel came very close to qualifying for the 1958 World Cup without winning a game.

Due to the withdrawal of their confederation opponents, Israel took on Wales in a two-legged qualifier to determine who would win their spot in Sweden.

Two 2-0 wins, in Tel Aviv and Cardiff, saw Wales qualify for their first major tournament—and their last for 58 years.

They broke that drought earlier this year, finishing second in Group B to book their spot in Euro 2016.

France 1-1 Republic of Ireland (a.e.t)

They don't come more controversial than this.

Ireland's 2010 World Cup play-off against France was evenly poised and headed into extra time thanks to Robbie Keane's second-leg goal at Stade de France.

The decisive moment came in the 103rd minute when William Gallas nodded home from close range to book France's ticket to South Africa.

But the goal should never have stood, with replays showing a clear handball by Thierry Henry in the buildup.

The result triggered protests and appeals from the Irish FA who, it was revealed earlier this year, received a payment from FIFA not to pursue legal action over the incident.

For what it's worth, France were bundled out of the 2010 World Cup at the first hurdle, finishing behind Uruguay, Mexico and the hosts South Africa in their group.