The UEFA playoffs came to an end on SUN 12-TUE 14 NOV 2017, when the last four European places at Russia 2018 were claimed. Series aggregate results are shown below.

• Switzerland 01-00 Northern Ireland: As full time approached with no goals scored, Switzerland’s 1-0 first leg win looked like it would hold up. But in stoppage time, the visitors came within a hair’s breadth of forcing extra time, as Jonny EVANS’s header was cleared off the line by Ricardo RODRÍGUEZ. In the end, Rodríguez’s controversial penalty in the first leg was all that separated the sides, and the Swiss reached their fourth consecutive Men’s World Cup.
• Greece 01-04 Croatia: Having built a comfortable advantage in the first leg, Croatia were content to ease through a return match in which Greece managed only one shot on target – and that came in the 86th minute. Croatia have now qualified for five of the six Men’s World Cups since 1998.
• Italy 00-01 Sweden: After a 1-0 first leg win, Sweden were content to absorb pressure from the Azzurri, and press Italy did. The home side enjoyed more than three quarters of the possession and attacked seemingly without end, with 27 total shot attempts. Not one, however, found net, though Antonio CANDREVA sent a blistering shot over the bar in the 27th minute, and Ciro IMMOBILE pushed one just wide of the mark in the 64th. Sweden qualify for the twelfth time, whilst Italy miss out for the first time in sixty years.
• Ireland Rep 01-05 Denmark: The first leg ended goalless, but the deadlock was broken just six minutes in, when Shane DUFFY’s header put the home side in front. In the 29th minute, however, an own goal levelled terms and undid the Irish squad’s momentum. It was followed in quick succession by the first of Christian ERIKSEN’s three goals on the night, leading Denmark to their fifth Men’s World Cup appearance.
• Qualified: Croatia, Denmark, Sweden, Switzerland
• Eliminated: Greece, Ireland Rep, Italy, N Ireland