On Tuesday, Croatia secured the last automatic qualifying berth for Euro 2024, while Wales had to settle for a play-off spot and France had to battle back to draw in Greece.
Wales had to settle for a play-off position, and France had to come from behind to draw in Greece, while Croatia secured the final automatic qualifying slot for Euro 2024 on Tuesday. A year ago, Croatia, who were semi-finalists in the World Cup, were aware that a victory over Armenia in Zagreb would guarantee their spot in the European Championship in Germany. However, a loss would have given Wales the opportunity to overtake them in Group D and go to the championship. In the end, Croatia advanced 1-0 thanks to a header from Ante Budimir two minutes before halftime, while Wales could only draw 1-1 in Cardiff against Turkey, who had already secured their spot in the tournament.
After losing to Wales and Turkey in October, Croatia’s chances of earning automatic qualifying were doubtful, but they will now become the 21st and last automatic qualifier for the 24-team competition in June and July of next year.
Veteran captain Luka Modric said UEFA.com, “We deserve to be at the Euro and we have a lot of time now to prepare for what awaits us there.”
Wales’ chances of qualifying for a third straight Euro will now be determined by the play-offs in March of next year.
They will play Finland, Ukraine, or Iceland in the play-off semi-finals, depending on the outcome of this Thursday’s draw.
France and Greece tied 2-2 in Athens, preventing France from having a perfect record at the end of Group B.
With Kylian Mbappe out of the starting lineup, Randal Kolo Muani’s opening goal placed France up late in the first half.
Soon after the half, Fotis Ioannidis put Greece ahead, and Captain Tasos Bakasetas quickly equalized.
Kingsley Coman’s deflected cutback appeared to cross the goal-line but spun back onto the post and out, perhaps denying France a likely winner at the last minute. However, Youssouf Fofana’s stunning drive brought France level once more.
However, the goal-line technology did not assist the on-field officials, so they missed it.
This pertains to the global scale. Naturally, there was no qualification at risk, but there was a chance that it was,” French coach Didier Deschamps said channel TF1.
He stated that the VAR official could not award a goal if he was “only 99 percent sure” the ball had entered the goal. “To have a ground without goal-line technology — because there isn’t, because it’s expensive — obviously it is incoherent, but the officials have to put up with it,” he further stated.
Although they are not guaranteed a spot, Greece, the 2004 Euro champions, can still advance through the play-offs.
Before defeating Gibraltar 6-0 in Faro, Portugal, the Netherlands had previously qualified from the same group.
Feyenoord’s Calvin Stengs netted a hat-trick, while Mats Wieffer, Teun Koopmeiners, and Cody Gakpo of Liverpool also scored.
Prior to their match in Bucharest, where the hosts prevailed 1-0 courtesy of a goal from Denis Alibec in the second half, Romania and Switzerland had already qualified from Group I.
In the same group, Belarus defeated Kosovo 1-0, while Israel—who will advance—victoriously defeated Andorra 2-0.
December 2 in Hamburg will see the final draw for Euro 2024.
