The number of qualifiers for Euro 24 rose to 10. The last two, in chronological order, to reach the final stage are Hungary and Slovakia. A draw against Bulgaria was enough for the Hungarians in the Sofia desert (the game was played behind closed doors, ed) scored with a reversal and they did it with enthusiasm, scoring 2-2 in the 97th minute. Slovakia needed a point against Iceland and instead they actually won 4-2, snuffing out the remaining hopes of Luxembourg and the islanders themselves.
Marco Rossi’s Hungary qualified with excitement
Marco Rossi’s Hungary, with Nagy as starter, played a brave game in Sofia. She went forward thanks to Adam (10′), and was immediately joined by Delev (24′). Life was complicated for the Bulgarians by the fact that they were left with 10 players due to the exclusion of ‘Cremonese’ Valentin Antov, who was sent off in the 36th minute due to a yellow card. It risked turning into a dark night for the hosts 3′ later when Polish referee Stefanski left them with 9 men and sent off Gruev for the latest foul on Botko. However, VAR recalled, the match director retraced his steps, noticing the evident simulation of the Hungarian defender. Numerical parity was restored in the 57th minute due to the red card, due to the accumulation of yellows, in the already eliminated Kerkez, he believed in the feat and in the 79th minute reversed the result from the penalty by Despodov. Hungary rushed forward and only after 6′ of added time reached the equalizer, and in a happy way: on Szoboszlai’s cross from a free kick, Petkov, in order to overtake Szalai, also overtook Naumov on the way out and inadvertently put the ball in his head. into his own goal, unleashing the joy of the Hungarian team.
Clashes before the match in Sofia: at least 12 injured
On the sidelines of the match, it should be noted that at least 12 people were injured in violent clashes that took place not far from the Vasil Levski Stadium just before the match. Several thousand protesters, who belonged to groups of supporters of various clubs, started throwing firecrackers, stones and bottles at the police forces engaged to ensure public order and peace. Some cars and garbage cans were set on fire, and the police responded by using water cannons. According to the media, the source of the protest was fans’ dissatisfaction with the decision of the Bulgarian Football Association to play the match behind closed doors. The protesters loudly demanded the resignation of the president of the Football Association, Borislav Mihajlov, who is responsible for the negative results of the national team.
Montenegro wins and still hopes
Despite Hungary’s result, Krstovic’s Montenegro kept alive their remaining hopes of qualifying for the same group as they moved to within 2 points of Serbia with one game to go by beating Gineitis’ Lithuania 2-0. A great protagonist was the former Viola Jovetić, who first (3′) assisted Kuča for 1:0, and then closed the score in the 48th minute.
Calzonina Slovakia celebrates, goals and assists for Duda. Injury in Lobotka
Gyomber, Duda and Lobotkin Slovakia secured their second ticket to Germany in the group of the previously qualified Portugal with a victory over Iceland (4-2). With a stiff Oskarsson (17′), Francesca Calzone’s team reversed the result with Kuck (30′), Duda who won and converted the penalty (36′), and then gave Harasla the ball for the first of his two goals (47′ and 55′). In the final, after Gudjohnsen’s unsuccessful goal (74′), Lobotka had to leave due to injury (he returned badly after being tackled from the air, ed) whose extent will be assessed in the next few days.
Portugal wins again, goal no. 128 for Ronaldo
Meanwhile, Portugal had fun in Liechtenstein, achieving their 9th success in 9 games (0-2): Cristiano Ronaldo opened the scoring (47′) with his 128th goal for the national team after hitting the post, and then closed the scoring (57′) Joao Cancelo . In the last match of Group J, a prestigious but fruitless victory (4-1) by Luxembourg, who will play in the playoffs against Krunic’s Bosnia. Olesen (6′), Gelson Rodrigues (30′ from the penalty and 95′) and Mujakić’s own goal (55′) decided. The winning goal for the guests was scored by Gojković in the 93rd minute.
Kvaratskhelia’s double is not enough for Georgia: 2-2 against Scotland
In group A, already decided, Spain won without problems (1-3) in Limassol against Ioannou and Kastanos’ Cyprus. The scorers were Yamal (5′), Oyarzabal (22′), who later left due to injury and risks missing the match against Milan in the Champions League, and Josela (28′). Pileas scored the winning goal for the home team in the 75th minute. A valuable double from Kvaratskhelia was not enough for Lochoshvili’s Georgia to beat Scotland (2-2). The Napoli forward broke the deadlock in the 15th minute with a sliding shot at the near post after Kakabadze’s cross from the right, then sealed the illusory 2-1 lead in the 57th minute with a fine personal move: he headed it into the back of the net. left, jumped over Patterson and slipped Clark with a great right diagonal shot. Scotland, with Ferguson on the field from 45′, did not give up and after the first equalizing goal (49′) by McTominay, in the 93rd minute with Shankland, the score was 2-2.
De Biasi’s Azerbaijan taught Sweden a lesson: 3-0
Finally, in Group F, the already qualified Austria of Posch and Arnautović (on the pitch in the 46th minute) registered 3 new points in Estonia (0-2). The scorers were Laimer (26′) and Lienhart (40′). In the end, Gianni De Biasi’s Azerbaijan got the platonic satisfaction of humiliating Cajuste’s already eliminated Sweden (3-0). It was a great evening by Makhmudov who opened and closed the match (3′ and 89′) scoring a goal from outside the middle of the field. Between the 2-0 (6′) by Dadashov and the dismissal received by Mustafazada, the hosts were left with 10 players from the 56th minute.
