Wales vs Poland LIVE: Euro 2024 play-off final result and reaction as Dragons defeated in penalty shootout
Wales 0-0 Poland (4-5 after penalties): Rob Page’s men fail to reach Euro 2024 after penalty heartbreak
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Wales failed to secure a place at Euro 2024 after losing their play-off final against Poland in a heart-breaking penalty shootout. The match remained goalless through the first 120 minutes with Wales managing to hold on through extra-time in a competitive match for the first time in their history.
They were the better team for the majority of the evening. Kieffer Moore was a consistent threat in the air and was denied a couple of times from the goalkeeping heroics of Wojciech Szczesny. Ben Davies, expertly marking Robert Lewandowski throughout, had a goal disallowed on the stroke of half-time through a marginal offside.
Wales were unable to take advantage during the second half and the match came down to a shootout. Poland, led by Lewandowski, scored a perfect five meaning Daniel James needed to score to keep the shootout on track. He shot to Szczesny’s right and the goalkeeper leapt across to palm the ball away and send his nation into Euro 2024 this summer.
Relive the action below plus get the latest odds and tips for the match right here:
Wales 0-0 Poland
6 mins: Harry Wilson and Nicola Zalewski both challenge for the ball with the Welsh midfielder sticking out a leg and awkwardly getting tangled up with his opponent.
He lands weirdly but is okay to continue. Wales have started okay, they haven’t seen as much of the ball as they’d like but Poland aren’t making much headway up the pitch.
Wales 0-0 Poland
3 mins: In the last couple of matches Wales have scored inside the opening seven minutes but things already seem different tonight.
Jordan James plays a fine pass forward but the ball runs through safely to Wojciech Szczesny. Poland then come down the left side and lose possession.
A quick pass up to Kieffer Moore sees the Welsh striker penalised for an elbow to the face.
Kick off! Wales 0-0 Poland
The visitors, dressed in all white tonight, get the ball rolling at the Cardiff City Stadium. It’s booted up the pitch and gets claimed easily by Danny Ward in the Welsh goal.
We’re underway.
Wales vs Poland
Here come the teams. The players head out onto the pitch and line up for the national anthems. This should be a stormer of a match and it’s expected to be a close one.
Wales don’t have a good record against Poland but, on the most crucial of nights, can they get past the Poles and scure a spot at Euro 2024?
Kick off is up next...
Wales vs Poland
Robert Lewandowski has been directly involved in 24 goals in his past 27 appearances for Poland (16 goals, eight assists), although he has not scored in any of his three games against Wales to date.
Wales vs Poland
Harry Wilson has been directly involved in six goals in nine appearances in the Euro 2024 qualifying campaign (three goals, three assists), the most of any player for Wales.
The Fulham midfielder has assisted a goal in each of his past two outings, while his 16 chances created are also the most of any player for the Dragons in this qualifying campaign.
Wales ready for crunch Euro 2024 play-off without talismanic figure Gareth Bale
Rob Page believes Wales have come “a long way” since the retirement of Gareth Bale to be within one win of reaching Euro 2024.
Wales host Poland in a play-off final at Cardiff City Stadium on Tuesday, with a place in Germany this summer at stake.
Victory would see Wales play at a third successive European Championship and a fourth major tournament out of five after qualifying for the 2022 World Cup.
But this time Wales would achieve qualification without talismanic former captain Bale, their record caps holder and goalscorer who retired a few months before the start of Euro 2024 qualifying in January 2023.
Wales ready for crunch Euro 2024 play-off without talismanic figure Gareth Bale
The Dragons’ record caps holder and goalscorer retired in January 2023 but manager Rob Page believes they are in a ‘good place’
Wales vs Poland
Since the start of 2023, Poland have lost three of their four Euro qualifier matches played away from home, losing to the Czech Republic, Moldova and Albania in that time.
They did win their most recent one, however, away to the Faroe Islands back in October (2-0).
Wales vs Poland
Wales are looking to qualify for a third consecutive European Championships, having previously appeared in the 2016 and 2020 editions.
In Euro qualifiers played at Cardiff City Stadium, Wales have only lost one of their last 15 (10 wins, four draws).
How to watch Wales vs Poland
Wales vs Poland is due to kick off at 7.45pm GMT on Tuesday 26 March at the Cardiff City Stadium.
Viewers in the United Kingdom can watch the match live on Viaplay Sports 2, with coverage from 7.35pm GMT, or via Welsh-language channel S4C from 7.20pm. A livestream will be available on the Viaplay Sports website and on the BBC iPlayer.
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