European Championship qualification: Albania and Denmark win the Germany ticket

Albania’s national football team has qualified for Euro 2024 in Germany, and Denmark is also there. Italy has a final against Ukraine – but a good chance of a European Championship ticket.

The Albanian team drew 1-1 (1-0) in Group E in Moldova on Friday and qualified as the twelfth team for the 2024 finals. Sokol Cikalleshi put Albania in the lead with a converted penalty (25th minute). After the late equalizer by Vladyslav Baboglo (87th), the guests had to tremble for a moment, but in the end they survived Moldova’s final offensive. This is the second time Albania has taken part in a European Championship since 2016. The final game will be against the Faroe Islands on Monday.

Poland can no longer qualify directly

Meanwhile, Poland led by former world footballer Robert Lewandowski no longer has a chance of direct qualification in Group E and has to hope for a detour via the playoffs. In Warsaw against the Czech Republic, the hosts only managed a 1-1 draw (0-1) and finished the group in third place at best. On the last matchday, the Czech Republic and Moldova will duel for the second ticket in the group.

Delaney secures Denmark’s European Championship ticket

Denmark’s national football team has secured participation in the European Championship finals for the ninth time. Coach Kasper Hjulmand’s team won 2-1 (1-1) against Slovenia in the top game of Group H on Friday and can no longer be pushed out of one of the top two places on the last matchday. The match winner in Parken in Copenhagen was ex-Bundesliga professional Thomas Delaney.

The former Bremen and Dortmund midfield strategist scored the decisive goal for the Danes in the 54th minute. Their lead by Wolfsburg’s full-back Joakim Maehle (26′) was equalized by Slovenia’s Erik Janza (30′) with a remarkable free kick goal from 16 meters in the first half. Jan Oblak, who was in great form in the Slovenian goal, prevented the superior 1992 European champions from scoring any further goals.

Slovenia or Kazakhstan – who will prevail?

For the Slovenians there will be a showdown with Kazakhstan on the last match day. The Kazakhs had previously beaten San Marino 3-1 (1-0) on Friday and could overtake Slovenia with a win in Ljubljana on Monday. At the same time, Denmark will play in Northern Ireland, who lost 4-0 to the Finns, who had already qualified for the play-offs, on Friday.

Italy’s final against Ukraine

European champions Italy won 5:2 (3:0) in Group C against North Macedonia in their penultimate game. In Rome, Matteo Darmian (17th) gave the Italians an early lead, who were also able to afford a missed penalty from Jorginho (40th) at this stage. Federico Chiesa (41st, 45th + 3) supposedly made things clear before the break.

But substitute Jani Atanasov (52nd, 74th) shortened the score with a brace and left the Italians trembling. Giacomo Raspadori (82nd) ​​saved the two-time European champions, Stephan El Shaarawy (90th + 3) from AS Roma made the final score in stoppage time.

With 13 points, Italy is second in the table ahead of Ukraine, which has the same number of points. On the last matchday both countries meet in Leverkusen. A draw will then be enough for Italy to take part in Germany next year.

England has trouble with Malta – and still wins

Meanwhile, the already qualified European runners-up England struggled to their sixth win in their seventh game. The team led by Bayern Munich’s star striker Harry Kane won a lackluster 2-0 (1-0) against Malta. Enrico Pepe (8th) scored an early own goal for Malta, who finished qualifying without a point. Kane (75th) increased. He scored his eighth goal in the European Championship qualification, only Cristiano Ronaldo and Romelu Lukaku (ten goals each) have scored more often.

Before the game began, fans, players and officials said goodbye to Bobby Charlton, who died in October. It was England’s first home game since the death of the 1966 world champion.