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The objective is clear: the path must lead to EURO 2020. Image: EPA
The last four tickets for the European Championship will be awarded: who will fulfill the big dream?
About 20 months after the first Euro 2020 qualifying match, which has been postponed to next year, the last four tickets for the tournament will be awarded today. In the four Nations League playoff finals, there is only one match left to decide whether to play or not. Newcomers, long-term absentees and surprise teams from the past: the grand final of qualifying for the European Championship has a lot to offer.
Highway D
Georgia – North Macedonia (in Tbilisi)
North Macedonia with 37-year-old veteran Goran Pandev and ex-Luganese Ezgjan Alioski, as well as Georgia, benefit from the newly created opportunity to qualify for the final of the 32-team European Championship through the Nations League. They would both be in a big tournament for the first time.
The two teams already know each other well. They finished 1st (North Macedonia) and 2nd in Group 2 of League C with equal points. Both direct duels ended 1: 1. The winner of the duel will complete the group with the Netherlands, Ukraine and Austria in the final round.
The last meeting between the two teams still has an impact today as Macedonia goalkeeper Stole Dimitrievski of Spanish second division club Rayo Vallecano is suspended for the decisive match against Georgia due to a red card traded in October. But there will also be an important man from Georgia missing: Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. The 19-year-old Rubin Kazan midfielder, like his teammate Levan Shengelia, tested positive for the coronavirus. The Russian legionnaire scored the first goal against North Macedonia in October.
Path C
Serbia – Scotland (in Belgrade)
Scotland has a chance against Serbia to end a long trauma. The “Bravehearts” last participated in a final round in 1998, and in the meantime there have been ten unsuccessful qualifications. After all, the latest results for the Scots are optimistic. Steve Clark’s team has not lost its last eight international matches, winning six of them.
While the Scottish squad is not studded with stars, the Serbian squad includes six Italian legionnaires alongside FCB goalkeeper Djordje Nikolic. Due to travel restrictions, they had to flee the country in order to participate in the playoff final. Aleksandar Kolarov and Inter Milan’s Lazios Sergej Milinkovic-Savic flew in private jets just before the shutdown ordered by local authorities was set.
If Serbia qualifies for the European Championship, Glasgow is expected to host a very explosive game next year: Serbia and Croatia, opponents of the war in the 1990s, would meet on the final day of the Championship group match. Europe in Scotland. UEFA has ruled out several politically explosive matches in the past, Serbia versus Croatia is not one of them. The other rivals of the group would be England and the Czech Republic.
Serbian hopes rest on Aleksandar Mitrovic, who has scored 19 goals in his last 18 international matches. Image: keystone
Path B
Northern Ireland – Slovakia (in Belfast)
Slovakia have already qualified for a major tournament twice (2010 World Cup and 2016 European Championship), and now they want to secure their third appearance against Northern Ireland. But the omens are not exactly good: Although the team surrounding captain Marek Hamsik won the semi-final against Ireland on penalties, more recently they only won a nine-game win. Therefore, the association parted ways with coach Pavel Hapal, now interim coach Stefan Tarkovic must judge him.
If Northern Ireland qualify, the team would be the “home team” in neighboring Dublin for two matches at the European Championship. Such short distances. The Northern Irishmen, who demanded everything from the national team in the 2017 World Cup playoffs, are not in top form either. In the semifinals of the playoffs, they beat Bosnia on penalties. Considering this game as a draw, Northern Ireland have been seven games without a win. The opponents in the ME would be Spain, Sweden and Poland.
Road to
Hungary – Iceland (in Budapest)
Both teams had a positive surprise at the last European Championship in France. Hungary’s first appearance since 1972 reached the round of 16, Iceland even reached the quarter-finals thanks to a surprise win against England. But not much of the euphoria of then remains. In the Nations League, the “Vikings” have yet to score a point in four games.
Hungary, on the other hand, showed a good performance recently: in the playoff semifinals there was a clear 3: 1 against Bulgaria, in the Nations League the “Magyars” celebrated away victories in Serbia and Turkey. The Hungarians are missing coach Marco Rossi due to a positive corona test, but with FC Lugano’s Akos Kecskes there is a Super League player on the roster. For him and his Hungarians, two home games in Budapest with Germany, France and Portugal in the Hamm Group would be possible. (pre / sda)
