In Austria Group F, not only the group win is decided on the last match day, but also the ÖFB draw pot in the draw. Belgium would push the ÖFB team back into second place with a home win against Azerbaijan, meaning that Austria’s theoretical chance of winning the first pot in the European Championship group draw on December 2nd in Hamburg would be gone. Sweden would like to get out of the affair properly after the 3-0 disgrace against Estonia in Baku on Thursday.
Group A is also relevant for Austria’s European Championship draw. Spain, for whom a draw at home against Georgia was enough to win the group, like the Scots who are two points behind, already has participation in the European Championship in the bag. In the last game, Scotland hosts Norway in Glasgow, who will have to do without star striker Erling Haaland. From an Austrian perspective, a point win and ideally even a victory for the Norwegians, who can only qualify for the final round via the play-off, would still be optimal for the pot allocation in the European Championship draw.
Reuters/NTB/Heiko Junge Scott McTominay (M.) and the Scots can still get Austria into the third draw
If Scotland and Austria finish second in their respective groups and both end up with 19 points, the goal difference would decide whether Rangnick’s troops or the Scots are drawn from the second pot. This is where the five “worst” group winners and the best runner-up end up. Austria is at plus ten, Scotland is currently at plus nine. With a win by at least two goals, the Scots would overtake the ÖFB team in the long-distance duel. Then Austria would come into the third pot.
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UEFA Euro 2024 qualification
Emotional long-distance duel between the neighbors
Things will also be interesting on Sunday in Group G, where Serbia needs a draw against Bulgaria in order to secure their first participation in the Euro since the separation from Montenegro in 2007. If that fails, ironically Montenegro could be the beneficiary. The long-distance duel between the two neighbors who once competed together is therefore one of the most hotly discussed sports topics in both countries.
“It is entirely up to us to shape our destiny as we expected at the end of these qualifications. We know what we have to do and we definitely hope for the best end,” said Serbia left-back Filip Mladenovic before the game against Bulgaria in Leskovac. “I think this generation deserves a place at the European Championships.”
For the opponent, it’s all about honor: the Bulgarians haven’t won a game yet and only have three points on their qualifying account. There is a threat of the first European Championship qualification ever without a single win. The Montenegrins, who in turn have to win against the already qualified Hungarians, will keep their fingers crossed that this doesn’t happen. However, they haven’t lost a whole calendar year and eleven games in a row.
Qualified teams
Group A: Spain, Scotland
Group B: France, Netherlands
Group C: England
Group D: Türkiye
Group E: Albania
Group F: AustriaBelgium
Group G: Hungary
Group H: Denmark
Group I: Romania, Switzerland
Group J: Portugal, Slovakia
Germany is already qualified as an organizer.
