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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Your support makes all the difference.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 vs Poland
Following their 4-1 victory over Finland, Wales stretched their unbeaten run to seven matches (four wins, three draws).
Only once have they recorded a longer streak without defeat under Robert Page (nine games between September 2021 and March 2022 - four wins, five draws).
If Wales give Robert Lewandowski a sniff at goal he will take it, warns Harry Wilson
Harry Wilson admits Robert Lewandowski’s hunger for goals represents the biggest threat to Wales reaching Euro 2024.
Wales host Poland in a Euro 2024 play-off final at the Cardiff City Stadium on Tuesday with a place in Germany this summer at stake.
Only one place separates the two nations in the FIFA world rankings – Wales are 29th, Poland 30th – but the visitors possess one of football’s greatest-ever goalscorers in their ranks.
Lewandowski has scored 82 goals for Poland and the 35-year-old Barcelona striker is the fourth overall men’s international goalscorer in Europe behind Romelu Lukaku (83), Ferenc Puskas (84) and Cristiano Ronaldo (128).
If Wales give Robert Lewandowski a sniff at goal he will take it – Harry Wilson
The veteran Barcelona striker has scored 35 goals for Poland, who Wales face for a place at Euro 2024.
Wales vs Poland
Poland have won each of their past three away games against Wales, all of which have been in competitive action (2-1 in 2001, 3-2 in 2004 and 1-0 in 2022).
Indeed, the only other European sides they’ve had a longer winning streak away from home against are San Marino (five) and Finland (two runs of four).
Wales vs Poland
Wales have lost each of their last six games against Poland (all played between 2001 and 2022); the only other non-British nation they’ve had a longer losing run against is the Netherlands, with 10 straight defeats between 1988 and 2022.
Wales vs Poland
Wales and Poland have faced each other on 10 previous occasions. Wales’ only victory came in their first meeting back in March 1973, losing seven and drawing two of their nine subsequent meetings.
The two factors Wales must exploit to beat Poland and reach Euro 2024
The long, convoluted and confusing route to Euro 2024 comes to a head on Tuesday night, with three play-off places to be settled and Wales hoping they can claim one of them, facing Poland at Cardiff City Stadium and riding high on the confidence generated by their 4-1 thrashing of Finland last week in the semis. A similar type of showing this time around can seal a third European Championship appearance in a row and a fourth tournament in eight years for the Dragons.
Yet, it must be acknowledged that the task remains large; even a near-perfect performance might yield two chances falling Poland’s way. If they happen to be at the boots of Robert Lewandowski, even with his powers on the wane he can ensure the rest of the match is rendered irrelevant.
But for all that they must beware the Barcelona forward and his teammates, Wales will have confidence in their own game, their own approach to chasing victory – and there are two particularly good reasons for doing so.
The two decisive factors Wales must exploit to beat Poland and reach Euro 2024
The play-off final in Cardiff could see Rob Page’s side into their fourth major tournament in under a decade
Wales team changes
Rob Page makes on change to the Welsh starting XI that faced Finland in their play-off semi-final last time out.
Striker Kieffer Moore comes in for David Brooks, who drops to the bench. Ben Davies captains the side once again with regular skipper Aaron Ramsey named among the substitutes.
Poland line-up to face Wales
Poland name an unchanged team from the one that demolished Estonia 5-1 in Thursday’s other play-off semi-final. Aston Villa right-back Matty Cash misses out after picking up an injury against Estonia.
Poland XI: Szczesny; Bednarek, Dawidowicz, Kiwior; Frankowski, Zielinski, Slisz, Piotrowski, Zalewski; Swiderski, Lewandowski.
Subs: Bulka, Skorupski, Puchacz, Walukiewicz, Salamon, Bochniewicz, Piatek, Moder, Romanczuk, Szymanski, Grosicki, Buksa.
Wales line-up to take on Poland
Wales XI: Ward; Mepham, Rodon, B. Davies; Roberts, Ampadu, J. James, Williams; Wilson, Johnson, Moore.
Subs: Hennessey, King, Fox, Dasilva, Sheehan, Savage, Ramsey, D. James, Matondo, Brooks, Broadhead, Cullen.
Davies talks Wales’ football future
Davies added: “Welsh football was in a pretty sticky place before Euro 2016.
“We felt that would be our best chance to qualify and it was important to break down that barrier to show it is possible.
“To show that qualification is there in your hands, and we’ve had players stepping up in big moments over and over. To do it four times is something that I never imagined happening.”
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