With just 90 minutes remaining, Croatia is in a race against time to secure direct qualification for the European Football Championship in Germany in 2024. The penultimate round saw a draw between Armenia and Wales, leaving Croatia with a chance to qualify for the tournament. They will face Armenia at Zagreb’s Maksimir Stadium on Wednesday evening, while Wales will take on Turkey at Cardiff City Stadium.
The outcome of these matches will determine which two teams will compete for the second position in the final tournament draw on December 2nd, with Turkey already qualified for the Euros. If Croatia were to finish among the top two national teams by winning, they would go directly to Germany and secure their place in the competition. However, if both Croatia and Turkey end up with six points each, Croatia’s better ratio of wins over losses would give them an advantage in terms of placement at the Euros.
The fans are eagerly anticipating this crucial match, with around 15,000 spectators expected to attend Zagreb’s Maksimir Stadium and push Zlatko Dalić’s team to victory. The outcome of this game could also have implications for Wales’ chances of making it into the play-offs.
With UEFA’s system of additional qualifications through placement in the League of Nations, there are few safe places left in the playoffs that will be held in March for the last three spots. So far, only Poland has secured its spot in League A mini-tournament where Croatia also belongs. The pairings and hosts for these play-off matches will be announced on Thursday during a meeting held at UEFA headquarters in Nyon.
In summary, Croatia is facing a crucial match against Armenia on Wednesday evening to secure direct qualification for the European Football Championship in Germany in 2024. The outcome of this match could have implications for both Croatia and Wales’ chances of making it into the tournament as well as other nations who are vying for those last spots through UEFA’s additional qualifications through placement in the League of Nations system.