Ukraine, Poland and Georgia are the final three teams to qualify for the 24-team continental championship.
It was a dramatic night for European football in Georgia as Ukraine came from behind to beat Iceland in the play-offs to qualify for Euro 2024 and Poland secured their place with a penalty shoot-out win over Wales.
The lineup for the 24-nation Euro 2024 was finalized on Tuesday, with three qualifying play-offs taking place, adding a strong Eastern European flavor to the tournament, which opens in Germany on June 14.
Mykhailo Mudryk's powerful low shot in the 84th minute gave Ukraine a 2-1 victory over Iceland, marking the second late come-from-behind victory in the playoffs for the team representing the war-torn country.
Kiev cannot host international matches during the match against Russia for security reasons, so Ukraine's “home” matches were played in neutral Poland, where Russia is banned from qualifying by UEFA.
Thank you guys!
Thank you, team!
For feelings that are important to the whole country.
An important win and a place in the EURO.
Proving it once again, whenever Ukrainians do not give up and keep fighting even in the face of difficulties, they always win.
Depending on the era… pic.twitter.com/THdnOw8k0B— Volodymyr Zelensky / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) March 26, 2024
Georgia's star forward Khvicha Kvaratskhelia will make his major tournament debut at Euro 2024, defeating Greece 4-2 on penalties. There was a noisy atmosphere in Tbilisi, resulting in a tense 0-0 draw.
The decisive penalty came from substitute Nika Kvekveskiri, who fired a perfect shot low into the corner, giving Georgia a 4-2 victory.
In wild celebrations, thousands of Georgia fans from the 50,000-strong crowd at the National Stadium poured onto the field, some even climbing the goalposts and sitting on the crossbar.
Georgian players were previously European champions, with the Soviet national team winning the first title in 1960.
Now the independent republic has earned the right to make its own football history in Germany.
Meanwhile, Poland became the last team to secure a ticket to Germany by defeating Wales 5-4 on penalties after a similar 0-0 draw in Cardiff.
Poland captain Robert Lewandowski, who took the first spot-kick of the shootout, couldn't bear to watch as goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny pushed away Dan James' last penalty.
“This is big because if I had lost the game my international career would probably have ended tonight,” Szczesny said.
Poland have appeared in every Euro tournament since star forward Lewandowski made his national team debut in 2008, including co-hosting Euro 2012 with Ukraine.
Poland will be placed in a tough Group D with France, Netherlands and Austria.
Ukraine is in Group F along with Belgium, Romania and Slovakia.
Georgia will be in Group F, where they will face Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal, Turkey and the Czech Republic.
Euro 2024 will be held in 10 German cities from June 14th to July 14th.
Ready for EURO2024! 🤩#Euro2024 pic.twitter.com/Fb7WEdgJff
— UEFA EURO 2024 (@EURO2024) March 26, 2024
