Euro 2024 play-off draw LIVE: Wales to meet Finland in first match of the final qualification stage
12 teams take part in a small qualifying play-off to determine which three will reach Euro 2024 next summer
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Your support makes all the difference.Wales have been drawn against Finland in the Euro 2024 play-offs, where three of 12 nations will secure a place at the tournament in Germany next summer.
Consecutive 1-1 draws against Armenia and Turkey during the most recent international break meant Wales slipped beneath Croatia in Group D and now face a further play-off battle to reach the tournament. They have been drawn against Finland, and should they emerge victorious they will face the winner of Poland vs Estonia for a place in the main draw.
Rob Page’s side are no strangers to using this route of qualification for major tournaments having reached the 2022 World Cup by beating Austria in a home semi-final before overcoming Ukraine in Cardiff.
Ukraine themselves will be hoping for a better outcome this time around as they face the play-offs once more along with several of the best third place finishers from qualifying, and will travel to Bosnia-Herzegovina before a potential final against the winners of Israel vs Iceland. With a minimum of four sides needed for each of the three play-off paths, teams from lower Nations League tiers make up the numbers.
The play-off semi-finals will be held on Thursday 21 March before the finals take place five days later on Tuesday 26 March.
Follow the Euro 2024 play-off draw live below:
Euro 2024 play-off draw
Already 20 nations have qualified for the main draw, with another three due to come through these play offs.
There is time for a closer look at the teams involved.
Euro 2024 play-off draw
Giorgio Marchetti is presenting the draw, with the representatives from the nations involved sitting in front of him.
Euro 2024 play-off draw
The stage is set, and the draw should be starting soon
Euro 2024 play-off draw
Just a final reminder about Path C: It doesn’t require a draw as the allocation is already confirmed. It will be formed of three League C group winners, Georgia, Greece and Kazakhstan, as well as the League C group runner-up, Luxembourg.
Euro 2024 play-off draw
We’re now just 10 minutes away from the start of the Euro 2024 play-off draw.
Euro 2024 play-off draw
How does the play-off draw work?
According to Uefa, the main thing to draw is which side from Finland, Ukraine or Iceland goes into ‘Path A’ and which of the other two go into ‘Path B’. The draw will also determine which winner of the semi-final hosts the play-off final.
According to Uefa, if Finland are allocated to Path B by the draw, as the higher-ranked team they would play Bosnia and Herzegovina, and whichever of Ukraine or Iceland are allocated to Path B would play top-ranked Israel. If Ukraine and Iceland are both allocated to Path B, the higher-ranked Ukraine would play Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Iceland would play Israel.
Euro 2024 play-off draw
Here was one of the surprise stories, from the Czech Republic:
Czech Republic beat 10-man Moldova 3-0 to qualify for Euro 2024 after Tomas Chory scored and provided an assist on his international debut in the Group E clash on Monday, thereby also ensuring Moldova missed out on a first major finals appearance.
However, coach Jaroslav Silhavy resigned after the victory, saying his decision was partly due to the pressure of the job.
Czech Republic manager quits after qualifying for Euro 2024
West Ham defender Vladimir Coufal was sent home from the squad after being pictured in a nightclub before the match
Euro 2024 play-off draw
Here’s a closer look at Wales’ qualifying campaign:
In the end, Wales’ destiny was decided not in Cardiff, but 1,200 miles away in Zagreb. For 35 minutes, they dared to dream. They could imagine the virtual table, showing them ahead of Croatia, propelling them to Euro 2024. Yet by the end of the night, Wales had lost a lead against Turkey and, more pertinently, Croatia had gained one against Armenia. Ante Budimir’s goal for Croatia condemned Wales to the play-offs, regardless of their own result.
Wales must take the long road to Euro 2024 after automatic hopes extinguished
Wales 1-1 Turkey: Croatia beat Armenia to take the second automatic qualification spot in Group D and push Rob Page’s side into the play-offs
Euro 2024 play-off draw
Here’s a look at those smaller countries with an outside chance of reaching the finals:
Two rounds of matches left in qualifying for a major competition. By now, as the football gods deem it, there must be a number of big nations already through, at least one of which has a perfect record, further calling into question the need and point for lengthy group stages.
Additionally, it is required that a handful of established footballing countries must still be “sweating” or otherwise marginally concerned over their places at the finals, often with “work to do” but certainly still “needing a result”. Thirdly, and often most (viciously) enjoyably for some, one previous winner or at least finalist from a major tournament of yesteryear must be facing up to their new reality of missing out altogether.
The football minnows within touching distance of Euro 2024
Euro 2024 could yet have some entirely unexpected names involved as Kazakhstan, Moldova and Luxembourg attempt to make the top two in their groups
Euro 2024 play-off draw
Here’s a quick look ahead to the main draw:
England will head to Euro 2024 as one of the top seeds as Gareth Southgate’s side look to go one step better than three years ago, when the Three Lions were beaten by Italy in the Euro 2020 final at Wembley.
After an unbeaten qualifying campaign that featured wins against Italy both at home and away in Naples, England joined hosts Germany, Portugal, France, Spain and Belgium in Pot 1.
They could face another all-British clash against Scotland in the Euro 2024 group stages after Steve Clarke’s side qualified for their second European Championships in a row. The Scots, who faced England in the Euro 2020 group stages, are in Pot 3.
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