In a dramatic close to the European qualifiers, Croatia has claimed the last automatic berth for Euro 2024 with a narrow 1-0 victory over Armenia. The pivotal match held in Zagreb was a nail-biter, with the home side finally breaking the deadlock just before halftime, thanks to Ante Budimir’s crucial header. The goal, originating from a Borna Sosa cross in the 43rd minute, was met with a mix of jubilation and palpable relief, particularly for the veteran midfielder Luka Modric. Despite an onslaught of 23 attempts on goal, the Croatians had to wait patiently for their breakthrough, which eventually secured their place alongside Group D winner Turkey.
On the same night, Wales, which needed a Croatian slip-up to maintain its hopes for direct qualification, was held to a 1-1 draw by Turkey. The Welsh team initially took the lead through Neco Williams but saw their aspirations dampened when Yusuf Yazici leveled the score with a penalty in the 70th minute. This outcome steered Wales into the playoffs, where they now face the challenge of emerging as one of the three teams to qualify from a pool of 12 contenders next March.
While Croatia and Wales experienced contrasting fortunes, France’s impeccable run in the qualifiers was tarnished as they were held to a 2-2 draw by Greece in Athens. The French, World Cup runner-ups, witnessed star forward Kylian Mbappé rattle the crossbar in the dying moments of the game, a miss that halted their record of consecutive victories.
The Netherlands, already assured of their spot at Euro 2024, delivered a resounding 6-0 triumph over Gibraltar. The Dutch performance was illuminated by forward Calvin Stengs, who netted a hat trick, and was ably supported by goals from midfielders Mats Wieffer, Teun Koopmeiners, and striker Cody Gapko. Gibraltar concluded their campaign having conceded 41 goals across eight games, a stark contrast to France’s 29 goals scored and only three conceded.
In a less pressured environment, Group I winner Romania edged past Switzerland 1-0 in a contest where only pride was at stake, both teams having already secured their tickets to the European Championship. Denis Alibec was the hero for the Romanians, finding the net early in the second half to cap off their successful qualifying campaign.
Concluding Group I’s fixtures, Israel secured a 2-0 victory over Andorra, finishing the group in third place, while Belarus claimed a narrow 1-0 win against Kosovo, thanks to Dmitri Antilevski’s timely effort.
The final whistle on these matches marks the end of a thrilling qualifying round for the Euro 2024, setting the stage for an intriguing playoff series and a highly anticipated championship in Germany. As the teams regroup and refocus, the road to Euro 2024 promises more excitement and footballing drama.
