The make-or-break Euro 2024 qualifying play-offs are set to start this week as Wales strive to reach this summer’s showpiece tournament.
Twelve countries still stand a chance of making it to UEFA’s premier international event, and they are now in a play-off situation.
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Wales must overcome two opponents to make it to the EurosCredit: AFP
It’s a really tough scenario and only three sides will be successful, leaving nine heartbroken nations.
What is the Euro 2024 play-off draw?
Unlike all previous Euro qualifiers, the 12 teams were selected based on their Nations League performances.
The group winners from all divisions in Leagues A, B, and C were automatically guaranteed a place in this play-off draw.
However, if they had already qualified, it passed down to the next best-ranked side.
League D were not meant to have any nation in the play-offs, but because fewer than four teams entered from one league, Estonia, the top-ranked side in D, got a place.
This new system has seen Norway, Sweden, and Montenegro miss out despite finishing third in their Euro 2024 qualifying groups.
Estonia ended up at the bottom of theirs and got a place, while Georgia were fourth.
Therefore, this new system adds importance to the Nations League and turns Euro qualifying into a straight shootout for a top-two spot.
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Erling Haaland and Norway have missed out on the Euros entirelyCredit: AFP
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These European countries all hope to make it to the EurosCredit: Getty
Euro 2024 play-off teams
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Estonia
Finland
Georgia
Greece
Iceland
Israel
Kazakhstan
Luxembourg
Poland
Ukraine
Wales
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Napoli star Khvicha Kvaratskhelia has a very good chance of making it to the Euros with GeorgiaCredit: AFP
Euro 2024 play-off fixtures and dates
The draw for the play-off semi-finals has been already made, which means that each team knows their potential route to Germany.
All of the semi-final games will take place on Thursday, March 21.
There will then be three play-off finals and they will be on Tuesday, March 26, with the winner from each advancing to Euro 2024.
Path A: Poland vs Estonia
Path A: Wales vs Finland
Path A final: Wales/Finland vs Poland/Estonia
Path B: Israel vs Iceland
Path B: Bosnia and Herzegovina vs Ukraine
Path B final: Bosnia-Herzegovina/Ukraine vs Israel/Iceland
Path C: Georgia vs Luxembourg
Path C: Greece vs Kazakhstan
Path C final: Georgia/Luxembourg vs Greece/Kazakhstan
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Robert Lewandowski and co could face a trip to Wales to decide their Euro 2024 fateCredit: Getty
Euro 2024 play-offs: Wales’ path
Wales have been handed a tough test, but it could have been worse.
For one, they are at home for their semi-final game against Finland, and should they win that, they will be at home for the final, which would see them play either Poland or Estonia.
Now, you would assume it will be Poland, given Estonia’s dreadful displays during qualifying, but you never know.
If they are to face Poland, they will be going up against Robert Lewandowski and co, who they faced during their Nations League campaign and lost both games.
The two fixtures were tightly contested, and on another day, Wales would have won both, so they shouldn’t have anything to fear.
And Wales boss, Rob Page, was pleased with the draw.
When asked if this was the best they could have hoped for at a press conference, he said: “Yeah, I think so.
“We’ve got the home leg for the semi-final. We didn’t particularly want to play Ukraine again.
“I am taking nothing away from Finland, it’s going to be a very tough challenge, but we’ve proven we are capable of getting fantastic results, so we are hoping for two big efforts.”
Ahead of the play-offs, Page has picked his squad.
Wales squad for Euro 2024 play-offs
Goalkeepers: Wayne Hennessey, Danny Ward, Tom King , Adam Davies
Defenders: Ben Davies, Joe Rodon, Joe Low, Chris Mepham, Ben Cabango, Neco Williams, Jay Dasilva, Connor Roberts
Midfielders: Wes Burns, Ethan Ampadu, Josh Sheehan, Dylan Levitt, Jordan James, Charlie Savage, Harry Wilson, Nathan Broadhead, Aaron Ramsey, Rabbi Matondo, David Brooks, Daniel James
Forwards: Liam Cullen, Rubin Colwill, Brennan Johnson, Kieffer Moore
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