2024-03-27 07:58:29
Wales and Poland fought hard for 90 minutes and extra time. In the end it goes to penalties – with a better outcome for the guests.
Poland completes the field of participants at the European Football Championship. In the decisive game of the playoffs, the country beat hosts Wales 5:4 (0:0, 0:0) after a penalty shootout. The Bialo-Czerwoni (White-Reds) secured their fifth European Championship participation in a row.
Poland goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny became a celebrated hero in front of 33,000 spectators at the Cardiff City Stadium. He saved Daniel James’ final penalty. Captain Robert Lewandowski was the first player to convert ice-coldly. The former FC Bayern goalscorer is taking part in his fifth major tournament in a row. Most recently, Poland missed the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
The hammer group is now waiting at the tournament in Germany: The Poles start the tournament on June 16th in Hamburg against the Netherlands. Austria and top favorite France are also waiting in Group D. Wales, on the other hand, missed the third major tournament in a row after EURO 2020 and the 2022 World Cup – by the narrowest of margins.
Georgia had previously celebrated after defeating Greece 4-2 on penalties (read more about this here). The country now faces Portugal, Turkey and the Czech Republic in Group F. The Ukrainians, who won their final 2-1 (0-1) against Iceland, can also celebrate. Albert Gudmundsson (30th minute) initially gave the Icelanders the lead in Breslau, Poland. But then Viktor Zyhankov (54th) and superstar Mykhailo Mudryk (84th) turned the game in favor of the Ukrainians. At the European Championships, Ukraine will play in the group stage against Belgium, Romania and Slovakia.