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European Championship qualification, football – playoffs semi-finals, March 21, 2024
20:45
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5.
20:52
This early goal can only be good for this game! How do the eagle owls react to the setback?
3.
20:49
Great for Wales, 1-0 by David Brooks
A lightning start from the Welsh! The hosts come forward on the left wing. First, Harry Wilson fails with his left-footed shot from a tight angle to Hrádecký. But the Finnish keeper parries right in front of the legs of David Brooks, who can push the ball into the goal from 12 meters with his left foot. What a cold shower for the guests!
3.
20:49
The hosts play in their familiar 3-4-3 system and attack the Finns early in their half.
1.
20:47
Enough of the words! The hymns have been sung, the sides have been chosen. Now the ball can finally roll in Cardiff! The Finns playing in blue toast.
1.
20:47
Game start
20:40
In we go to the Cardiff City Stadium! There’s a real do-or-die atmosphere in the crowd of almost 30,000 fans. These include 1,500 Finns who traveled with us.
20:27
This playoff semi-final will be supervised by Romanian referee István Kovács. Two Germans can also be found in his team today: Tobias Stieler is the fourth official standing between the coaching benches and Marco Fritz is sitting in a container in front of the stadium in Cardiff as VAR. Good whistle!
20:18
The Finns, who are ranked 60th in the FIFA world rankings, also had to settle for third place in their group. They had to give way to Slovenia and Denmark. Now the second participation in the European Games after 2021 should work through the playoffs. The Finnish coach Markku Kanerva today relies on some well-known names from the Bundesliga: in addition to keeper Lukáš Hrádecký (Bayer 04 Leverkusen), you can also find players like Teemu Puuki (formerly FC Schalke 04), Joel Pohjanpalo (formerly Bayer 04 Leverkusen) or Fredrik Jensen (currently FC Augsburg) again. The Eagle Owls played their last game in November, narrowly defeating San Marino 2-1. Pyry Soiri, initially on the bench today, scored both goals.
20:07
The Welsh had to settle for third place in their qualifying Group D behind Turkey and Croatia. The two games against Armenia, both of which could not be won, were crucial. For the hosts this evening it is the second playoff participation. In 2004, the Dragons were defeated by Russia. But the Welsh, who are so strong at home (only one defeat in their last 14 home games), now want to qualify for the third European Championship in history. After 2016, when they surprisingly made it to the semi-finals as debutants, and in 2021, it should also work in 2024. For this to work, coach Rob Page’s men have to bring everything they have onto the pitch. Said the coach before the game.
19:53
The first semi-final of “Path A” will take place today at the Cardiff City Stadium. The last three open places for the European Championship in the summer will be awarded via these so-called playoff “paths” (there are three in total) by UEFA. Wales and Finland will battle it out in a semi-final today for a place in Tuesday’s final. The Poles or Estonia are waiting there. The winner then travels to the European Championships and competes in Group D against the Netherlands, Austria and France. At first glance, these playoffs sound more complicated than they actually are.
19:30
Have a nice evening to the European Championship qualification playoffs! Wales will face Finland in the semi-finals in Cardiff. The winner of the game can still hope to take part in the European Championships this summer. It starts at 8:45 p.m. We hope you have fun!
