Ukraine have certified for the 2024 European Championship after a 2-1 victory over Iceland of their play-off closing.
Chelsea’s Mykhailo Mudryk was the matchwinner for Ukraine, who had gone behind within the thirtieth minute after an outstanding particular person purpose from Genoa ahead Albert Gudmundsson.
Valencia’s Roman Yaremchuk thought he had equalised for Ukraine shortly after, solely to see his effort dominated out for offside. Ukraine did then degree within the 54th minute by way of Girona’s Viktor Tsygankov, earlier than Mudryk received the match late on as he transformed from Heorhiy Sudakov’s cutback.
The sport happened in Wroclaw, Poland because of the ongoing Russia-Ukraine warfare. Russia invaded their neighbours in February 2022 and worldwide soccer has not been performed in Ukraine since, with nationwide staff video games being hosted in Poland, Germany and Czech Republic as a substitute. Russia stay banned from competing at worldwide tournaments by FIFA, world soccer’s organising physique, and UEFA, Europe’s governing physique of soccer.
Ukraine’s win over Iceland means they may face Belgium, Romania and Slovakia in Group E at this summer season’s Euros in Germany. Their opening sport can be in opposition to Romania on the Allianz Area in Munich on June 17.
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Georgia additionally certified for the Euros for the primary time of their historical past with a penalty shootout victory over 2004 champions Greece on the Boris Paichadze Dinamo Area in Tbilisi. The sport completed goalless after 120 minutes, with Georgia profitable 4-2 on penalties after Greece missed their first and fourth makes an attempt.
Georgia are managed by former Bayern Munich defender Willy Sagnol, who took cost in February 2021. Sagnol’s facet received solely two of their eight qualification matches however had been eligible for a spot within the play-offs by advantage of their UEFA Nations League 2022-24 efficiency, the place they received League C Group 4 with 5 wins from six. They then beat Luxembourg 2-0 in final Thursday’s play-off semi-final to arrange Tuesday’s showdown with Greece.
Georgia’s victory means they are going to be positioned in Group F, the place they may face Portugal, Turkey and Czech Republic.
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Poland had been the third facet to qualify for the Euros on Tuesday night time, with their 5-4 penalty shootout victory over Wales securing their spot on the match.
That sport additionally completed goalless after common and further time, with Poland scoring all 5 of their penalties earlier than Juventus goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny saved Wales’ fifth spot-kick from Leeds United’s Dan James to win the match in Cardiff.
Poland, who reached the last-16 stage of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, will face France, Austria and the Netherlands in Group D on the Euros.
(Sergei Gapon/AFP by way of Getty Pictures)