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Ronaldo v Zlatan: it's advantage Portugal ahead of this evening's second leg in Sweden. Armando Franca/AP/Press Association Images

The state of play in today's World Cup qualifiers -- and six reasons to watch them

Who will be booking their flights to Brazil? And who can starting making alternative summer plans for next years?

Egypt v Ghana (4pm)

Ghana effectively booked their plane tickets when they thumped Egypt 6-1 last month. There have been considerable security concerns ahead of today’s second leg but the game will go ahead in Cairo as planned.

Why we’ll be watching: Who needs an excuse to watch afternoon football at work? If the first leg is anything to go by, there will be goals.

Algeria v Burkina Faso (6.15pm)

Burkina Faso are on the brink of World Cup qualification for the first time in the country’s history. They take a 3-2 lead into their second leg against Algeria after a controversial late penalty decided matters in Ouagadougou last month.

Algeria, needless to say, weren’t happy and the build-up to this evening’s game has been so tense that the Burkinabe FA have returned most of their ticket allocation.

Why we’ll be watching: We don’t want to miss out on history.

Romania v Greece (7pm)

Every football fan in Ireland was a little bit Greek on Friday night and thankfully, Zeus’s lads came away with 3-1 win that looks to have guaranteed our place as second seeds in the draw for Euro 2016.

Captain Kostas Katsouranis misses tonight’s match through suspension but Greece remain 1/7 favourites to advance.

Why we’ll be watching: Nobody likes being accused of bandwagoning. We want to see if Greece can finish the job.

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(Igor Kralj//Pixsell/Press Association Images)

Croatia v Iceland (7.15pm)

Croatia gave us Suker, Boban, Bilic and Prosinecki but it seems that hipsters and non-hipsters alike are shouting for Iceland tonight.

The tie is finely poised but it is Lars Lagerback who will be happiest with the 0-0 draw after Iceland played most of the second half with 10 men on Friday night.

Why we’ll be watching: Hipster credentials are important around here.

Sweden v Portugal (7.45pm)

“The World Cup needs Zlatan more than Ronaldo,” according to a certain Swedish superstar, but round one went to the Portugeuse on Friday. Ronaldo’s header is all that separates the sides and the world will be watching tonight’s second leg in Solna.

Why we’ll be watching: Zlatan v Ronaldo. Compulsory viewing.

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(Thibault Camus/AP/Press Association Images)

France v Ukraine (8pm)

‘A nightmare’ and ‘inept’ were two of the words used by French media to describe a rather shambolic first leg against Ukraine. “The French would do well just to draw the second leg,” L’Equipe said after the 2-0 defeat.

Call us bitter but we quite enjoyed that.

Why we’ll be watching: Yesterday marked the four-year anniversary of the Henry handball. Never forget.

5 Irish players with a point to prove against Poland

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