Discover the largest tales from throughout the soccer world by visiting our High Soccer Information part and subscribing to push notifications.
GENEVA (AP) — Two nationwide soccer groups whose international locations are concerned in wars. A two-time FIFA world participant of the 12 months aiming for probably his final event. A crew that went 31 years failing to win a European Championship qualifying recreation.
The plotlines are vivid for these hoping to earn one in all three locations within the 24-team lineup at Euro 2024 which might be being determined over the subsequent week in qualifying playoffs.
Twelve nations set out on Thursday in four-team knockout brackets. They have to advance by means of two single-leg video games in 5 days to be in Germany for the June 14-July 14 event.
Israel and Ukraine might meet subsequent Tuesday in what can be a decisive recreation of a bracket the place neither can play at dwelling due to navy conflicts.
Israel has picked Hungary — its adopted soccer dwelling for safety causes because the Hamas assaults on Oct. 7 — to face Iceland on Thursday. The winner in Budapest will journey to face Ukraine or Bosnia-Herzegovina subsequent Tuesday.
If Ukraine wins on Thursday in Zenica — the Bosnian metropolis the place its November 2021 win in a World Cup qualifier was the crew’s final recreation earlier than the Russian invasion — it can host the bracket ultimate in Wroclaw, Poland.
Poland is in a separate playoffs bracket and captain Robert Lewandowski, voted FIFA participant of the 12 months in 2020 and ’21, will lead his crew on Thursday in Warsaw closely favored to beat Estonia.
If Poland wins, will probably be away subsequent Tuesday at Wales or Finland, who meet on Thursday in Cardiff.
The third bracket includes low-ranked groups attempting to comply with North Macedonia’s underdog path to Euro 2020.
Luxembourg is nearer than ever to a serious event after being overmatched for a lot of the European Championship’s 66-year historical past.
If Luxembourg can get previous Georgia in Tbilisi on Thursday, it can host Euro 2004 champion Greece or Kazakhstan, who meet in Athens.
Playoffs format
The 21 groups already within the Euro 2024 lineup are Germany plus the winner and runner-up in every of 10 conventional qualifying teams performed final 12 months. UEFA banned Russia from the competitors.
Entry within the playoffs is predicated not on these group standings, however leads to the Nations League teams performed in 2022.
Poland and Wales performed within the Nations League high tier and their opponents Estonia and Finland, respectively, had been upgraded from decrease tiers. Estonia was the best ranked of the Nations League fourth-tier groups.
League A bracket
At age 35, and with 82 objectives in 146 video games for Poland, Robert Lewandowski may need only one finals event left in a stellar profession.
The winner of this bracket goes right into a Euro 2024 group with the Netherlands, Austria and a ultimate recreation in opposition to France in Dortmund — the place Lewandowski starred from 2010-14.
Poland is unbeaten at dwelling in 20 Euros qualifying video games since 2006, although Estonia received once they final met 12 years in the past. That recreation was determined by a Ninetieth-minute aim by Konstantin Vassiljev. Now 39, Vassiljev can tie the nationwide document of 157 appearances, held by Martin Reim, if he performs in Warsaw.
Wales is confirmed in playoffs after qualifying for the 2022 World Cup that means, beating Austria and Ukraine. Identical to two years in the past, the draw has given Wales solely dwelling video games.
League B bracket
Israel has by no means performed at a European Championship. The nationwide crew has tried qualifying since becoming a member of UEFA 30 years in the past due to safety and diplomatic points in Asian soccer.
Although some Asian soccer federations need Israel sanctioned within the sport due to the navy battle in Gaza, a key distinction with Russia’s exclusion is that no UEFA member has refused to play video games in opposition to Israeli groups.
Israel first faces Iceland, whose debut at Euro 2016 was a feelgood story because it eradicated England to achieve the quarterfinals.
Ukraine coach Serhiy Rebrov’s crew returns to Bosnia, the place it received 2-0 in November 2021. A type of objectives in Zenica was scored by Artem Dovbyk. He’s having a standout debut season in Spain with Girona, which was the shock La Liga chief for a number of weeks.
Bosnia-Herzegovina hopes to affix Croatia, Serbia and Slovenia because the fourth qualifier from the previous Yugoslavia at Euro 2024.
“It is one thing virtually unimaginable to think about earlier than this,” Bosnia coach Savo Milosevic, the previous Serbia striker, mentioned on the playoffs attract November.
Bosnia had three totally different coaches in a troubled qualifying group and nonetheless depends on veterans Edin Dzeko and Miralem Pjanic.
The bracket winner will go right into a Euro 2024 group with Romania, Slovakia and Belgium.
League C bracket
Georgia will first host Luxembourg within the intimidating nationwide stadium in Tbilisi with out talismanic star Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.
The Napoli winger is suspended for getting three yellow playing cards within the qualifying group, together with within the final two video games in opposition to Scotland and Spain, which had been irrelevant to coming into the playoffs.
Luxembourg additionally misses a key attacker, Daniel Sinani, who received a crimson card within the final qualifying group recreation. In that group, Luxembourg received extra video games (5) than in its earlier six Euros qualifying applications mixed.
A Greece crew coached by Uruguayan nice Gus Poyet can be rewarded at Euro 2024 with enjoying neighbor Turkey. Portugal and the Czech Republic are also within the group.
___
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
