Last Chance to board the Euro 2024 train: Playoff Preview
By Euan Moore
There are still chances for the Euros (Image: Getty Images)
With less than one hundred days until Euro 2024 kicks off, twelve nations can punch their ticket to Germany via the Playoffs. The teams were selected based on their performances in the 2022/23 Nations league.
The fixtures are as follows:
Poland vs Estonia
Estonia may face the toughest task of all the teams vying for qualification, with Poland unbeaten in their last twenty home Euro Qualifying matches (15W 5D). Estonia can take an inch of confidence with them running out 1-0 winners when the two sides met in 2012, the man who scored the winning goal on the day. Current Estonia captain and record appearance maker Konstantin Vassiljev.
Key Man: Robert Lewandowski
Lewandowski has been on decent form by his lofty standards this season, with 29 goals and assists in just 39 games for Barcelona this season. The Poland record goal scorer will be at the heart of Poland’s hopes for qualifying.
Wales vs Finland
Wales are desperate to make it to the Euros (Image: Getty Images)
Wales have been in good form as of late most notably recording a 2-1 at home against Croatia and have lost one of their last four against Finland (W2 D1) with striker Kieffer Moore scoring in both wins. The atmosphere at the Principality Stadium is electric and if Wales are to get a result the buoyant support of “The Red Wall” will be at the heart of it.
Key Man: Harry Wilson
Wilson has been particularly good in a flying Fulham side this season and that form has translated to the international football, with Wilson having five goal contributions in just eight starts in the qualifiers.
Israel vs Iceland
Israel narrowly missed out of automatic qualification finishing just two points behind Switzerland in Group I. The two most recent occasions the sides met ended in 2-2 draws and this promises to be another keenly contested affair With Israel slight favourites to progress.
Key Man: Eran Zahavi
Israel all-time top scorer Eran Zahavi is in lethal form all be it in the Israeli Premier League. He has been in and out of the side in recent games, but you have to feel Israel will hang their hat on him as he looks to have one last chance to get Israel to a tournament.
Bosnia and Herzegovina vs Ukraine
The pick of the ties with Ukraine boasting the most talented squad out of the sides involved with their squad including Girona Duo Artem Dovbyk and Viktor Tsygankov, Chelsea Speedster Mykhailo Mudryk. Bosnia are not without their own talismanic figure with a 38-year-old Edin Dzeko still supplying the goods at club and international level. Ukraine were unlucky to not qualify after finishing level on points with Italy in Group C finishing behind on goal difference and Head-to-head record.
Key Man: Artem Dovbyk
Dovbyk has been sensational for Girona after making his move from Dnipro-1 in the summer. The Ukrainian has scored 14 goals in just 27 games and has been front and centre of Girona’s unlikely title push this season.
Georgia vs Luxembourg
When you think of Georgia over the last 2 years, it is incredibly difficult to not automatically think of the magical Napoli star Kvicha Kvaratskhelia. He has been instrumental in Georgia’s recent up turn in form to put them in a position to qualify for their first ever international tournament. Luxembourg have been one of the shocks of the qualifiers and have done remarkably well to even be able to qualify, the 85th ranked nation have had impressive results recently and will look to amaze watchers by getting the better of a solid Georgia side.
Key Man: Kvicha Kvaratskhelia
Since he made his move to Napoli in the summer of 2022 Kvicha has been gaining attention from all corners of Europe with every big club imaginable linked with the Georgian Starlet. Although having an average start in comparison to his previous season he has picked up form in recent games and looks to Guide Georgia into the Euros
Greece vs Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan have been equally as if not more impressive than Luxembourg, with the side ranked 100th looking to qualify for their first international tournament in their history. Greece are significant favourites but have not qualified for a tournament since the World cup in 2014 however their current squad is potentially the strongest since they won the tournament in 2004.
Key Man: Kostas Tsimikas
Tsimikas has been in a nice vein of form for Liverpool this season ably deputising for Andrew Robertson. Tsimikas provided Liverpool’s biggest moment of the season yet assisting Virgil van Dijk’s late winner in the League Cup final. With many aerially dominant Players in the Greece squad set pieces could turn out the best route to a victory for them.