Mon. Sep 30th, 2024
Occasional Digest - a story for you

Euro 2024 logo

The football isn’t over. It never is.

The latest round of Euro 2024 qualifiers is under way – with all the home nations and the Republic of Ireland in action.

Not every team will be playing qualifiers in June, with the Netherlands, Croatia, Spain and Italy competing in the Nations League finals instead.

BBC Sport looks at how qualifying works and how England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland are doing.

How does Euro 2024 qualifying work?

The top two teams in each group (seven have five teams, three have six) qualify for Euro 2024, plus Germany automatically as hosts.

The other three qualifiers will come from play-offs based on last year’s Nations League.

The remaining games after this month will be played in international breaks in September, October and November.

England – Group C

Team Played GD Pts
1. England 3 7 9
2. Ukraine 2 -1 3
3. Italy 2 1 3
4. North Macedonia 2 0 3
5. Malta 3 -7 0

England beat Italy and Ukraine in their March games to take early control of the group – and brushed off Malta on Friday.

With a home game with North Macedonia on Monday, they will be confident of making it 12 points from four games.

That would possibly give Gareth Southgate’s side the chance to seal qualification in September with two international windows to spare.

Scotland – Group A

Team Played GD Pts
1. Scotland 2 5 6
2. Spain 2 1 3
3. Georgia 1 0 1
4. Norway 2 -3 1
5. Cyprus 1 -3 0

Scotland are also on maximum points after beating Cyprus and then securing a famous win over Spain.

They go to Norway on Saturday, 17 June and host Georgia the following Tuesday looking to pile some more points on the board.

Even if Scotland do not finish in the top two, they will be in the play-offs after winning Group B1 of the Nations League in 2022.

Nielsen Gracenote chance of direct qualification: 73%

Wales – Group D

Team Played GD Pts
1. Turkey 3 0 6
2. Croatia 2 2 4
3. Wales 3 -1 4
4. Armenia 2 1 3
5. Latvia 2 -2 0

Wales’ shock 4-2 home defeat by Armenia on Friday has dented their hopes – having drawn in Croatia and beaten Latvia in March.

They will look to bounce back when they visit Turkey on Monday.

Northern Ireland – Group H

Team Played GD Pts
1. Denmark 3 2 6
2. Kazakhstan 3 3 6
3. Finland 3 1 6
4. Slovenia 3 1 6
5. Northern Ireland 3 0 3
6. San Marino 3 -7 0

Northern Ireland started off with a routine win in San Marino but then lost to Finland in March and Denmark on Friday.

In what is shaping up to be a close group, they can get themselves back into contention if they win Monday’s home game with Kazakhstan.

Republic of Ireland – Group B

Team Played GD Pts
1. France 3 8 9
2. Greece 2 4 6
3. Netherlands 2 -1 3
4. Republic of Ireland 2 -2 0
5. Gibraltar 3 -9 0

The Republic of Ireland have lost to France and Greece in their opening two qualifiers.

They host Gibraltar on Monday in a game they need to win.

Everything you need to know about your Premier League team bannerBBC Sport banner footer

Source link