Croatia clinched the ultimate automated qualifying spot for Euro 2024 on Tuesday as Wales have been pressured to accept a play-off place, whereas France needed to come from behind to attract in Greece. Semi-finalists on the World Cup 12 months in the past, Croatia knew they’d qualify for subsequent yr’s European Championship in Germany with a win towards Armenia in Zagreb, however any slip-up would have allowed Wales to leapfrog them into second place in Group D. In the top it was a header two minutes earlier than half-time by Ante Budimir that gave Croatia a 1-0 win to take them via, whereas Wales might solely draw 1-1 with already-qualified Turkey in Cardiff.

Croatia’s prospects of automated qualification had appeared doubtful after they misplaced to each Turkey and Wales in October, however they grow to be the twenty first and last automated qualifier for the 24-team event subsequent June and July.

“We deserve to be at the Euro and we have a lot of time now to prepare for what awaits us there,” veteran captain Luka Modric advised UEFA.com.

Wales will now go into the play-offs subsequent March to decided whether or not they qualify for a 3rd consecutive Euro.

A draw this Thursday will resolve whether or not they face Finland, Ukraine or Iceland within the play-off semi-finals.

A victory in that might arrange a last decider towards Poland or Estonia, with three qualifying spots in complete on provide within the play-offs.

They beat Ukraine in a play-off to qualify for final yr’s World Cup.

Rob Page’s aspect wanted to beat Turkey on Tuesday to face an opportunity of overtaking Croatia, and so they went forward via an early Neco Williams aim. However, Yusuf Yazici’s Seventieth-minute penalty earned Turkey a draw.

“That level of performance is what we need to do. If we do that when we come back together in March we’ll be ok,” insisted Page.

French denied late winner

France missed out on ending with an ideal report in Group B as they drew 2-2 with Greece in Athens.

Randal Kolo Muani’s opener put France, with Kylian Mbappe rested from the beginning line-up, in entrance late within the first half.

Captain Tasos Bakasetas equalised for Greece quickly after the break and Fotis Ioannidis then put them in entrance.

However, Youssouf Fofana’s highly effective strike pulled France degree once more, and so they seemed to be denied a sure winner on the loss of life when Kingsley Coman‘s deflected cutback appeared to cross the goal-line earlier than spinning again onto the submit and out.

But it was missed by the on-field officers, who had no goal-line know-how to assist them.

“This is the international level. There was no qualification at stake obviously but there could have been,” French coach Didier Deschamps complained to broadcaster TF1.

“To have a ground with no 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 stated, including that the VAR official couldn’t give a aim if he was “only 99 percent sure” the ball had gone in.

Dutch hit six

Greece, the 2004 Euro winners, don’t qualify mechanically however can nonetheless come via the play-offs.

The Netherlands had already certified from the identical group earlier than their 6-0 win over minnows Gibraltar in Faro, Portugal.

Calvin Stengs of Feyenoord scored a hat-trick, with Mats Wieffer, Teun Koopmeiners and Liverpool’s Cody Gakpo additionally netting.

Romania and Switzerland had already certified from Group I previous to their conflict in Bucharest, which the hosts gained 1-0 because of Denis Alibec‘s second-half aim.

Israel, who can be within the play-offs, gained 2-0 in Andorra in the identical group, whereas Belarus beat Kosovo 1-0.

The last draw for Euro 2024 will happen in Hamburg on December 2.

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