Donnarumma saved his sight, Kazakhstan not far from a historic qualification. Reuters/THILO SCHMUELGEN/AFP/JURE MAKOVEC
At the end of a seven-match multiplex, Italy, the Czech Republic and Slovenia won their ticket to Euro 2024.
Tops
Italy qualified at the end of the suspense
It’s official. After the traumatic non-qualification for the 2022 World Cup experienced by the Italian people, the Squadra Azzura will be there in Germany. The title holders ensured the essentials at the end of a displacement of all the dangers in Ukraine, concluded with a score of 0 to 0. But it was hard! Spalletti’s men did not come far from reliving the nightmare of defeat against North Macedonia, which deprived them of the World Cup last December (0-1 defeat). Thanks to an immense Donnarumma, author of multiple parades on Monday evening, the Nazionale will be able to defend its title next June.
Slovenia at the Euro, a first in 24 years
Twenty-four years later, Slovenia will compete for a Euro again. Opposing Kazakhstan in a match they had no right to lose, the Slovenes won thanks to two goals from Sesko (41st) and Verbic (86th). Jan Oblak’s teammates managed to escape from a particularly tight Group H, in which four teams finished with at least 18 points. The captain of Atletico Madrid, decisive this evening thanks to some high-class saves, will therefore experience the first final phase of a major international competition of his career, the second Euro in the history of Slovenia.
Czechs validate their ticket
The Czech Republic only needed a draw to qualify against Moldova, and were not satisfied with that. Thanks to three goals from Doudera, Chory and Soucek, the Czechs qualified quite easily after a controlled evening. They finished second in their group, behind Albania who conceded a draw at home against the Faroe Islands (0-0). In Germany, Jaroslav Šilhavý’s men hope to do as well as in the previous edition. Led by a great Patrick Schick, they reached the quarter-finals, after notably taking the scalps of England and the Netherlands.
Flops
Kazakhstan very close to’exploit
Facing Slovenia for this last day of qualifying for the Euro, Kazakhstan was able to write the most beautiful page in its footballing history this Monday evening. Having never played in a final phase of a major competition since leaving the URRS, the Snow Leopards did not get far this evening. They needed a victory for that, and they were close to it in the second half. But on an assassinated counterattack, Verbic reduced the Kazakhstani hopes to nothing. Too bad for the Blue and Yellow, who may harbor regrets.
The step was too high for Moldova
Moldova could also qualify for the first Euro in its history, in the event of victory against the Czech Republic. But unlike their Kazakhstani counterparts, the Moldovans did not manage to keep the suspense going. The fault, in particular, was a red card shown to Baboglo at the start of the second half. They therefore finish fourth in their group, behind Albania and the Czech Republic, but also behind Poland who will compete in the play-offs.
