Wales vs Poland LIVE: Euro 2024 play-off final result and reaction as Dragons defeated in penalty shootout
Wales 0-0 Poland (4-5 after penalties): Rob Page’s men fail to reach Euro 2024 after penalty heartbreak
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Wales failed to secure a place at Euro 2024 after losing their play-off final against Poland in a heart-breaking penalty shootout. The match remained goalless through the first 120 minutes with Wales managing to hold on through extra-time in a competitive match for the first time in their history.
They were the better team for the majority of the evening. Kieffer Moore was a consistent threat in the air and was denied a couple of times from the goalkeeping heroics of Wojciech Szczesny. Ben Davies, expertly marking Robert Lewandowski throughout, had a goal disallowed on the stroke of half-time through a marginal offside.
Wales were unable to take advantage during the second half and the match came down to a shootout. Poland, led by Lewandowski, scored a perfect five meaning Daniel James needed to score to keep the shootout on track. He shot to Szczesny’s right and the goalkeeper leapt across to palm the ball away and send his nation into Euro 2024 this summer.
Relive the action below plus get the latest odds and tips for the match right here:
Roberts on playing for Wales
Conner Roberts spoke about how it feels to represent Wales on the international stage and how he hopes tonight’s crunch match against Poland will go.
He said: “Whenever I play for Wales, I never really feel tired.
“I always really just want to run more, want to do more for the team, do more for my country, for myself and make people proud.
“I’m sure that goes for every single player who gets to play for Wales. We’re not the biggest footballing nation, we’re not the best players in the world.
“But we all want to be here, we all want to do well and I think that that has shown in recent games. Hopefully, it shows again on Tuesday night.”
Connor Roberts hopes ‘power of the tash’ helps fire Wales to Euro 2024
Connor Roberts hopes the “power of the tash” can help Wales to Euro 2024 play-off glory against Poland.
Roberts has embarked on long unbeaten Championship runs at Burnley and Leeds over the last two seasons after putting his razor away and growing a moustache.
The 28-year-old wing-back is now determined to avoid a close shave on the international stage and show off his new look in Germany this summer as Wales host Poland on Tuesday for a place at Euro 2024.
Connor Roberts hopes ‘power of the tash’ helps fire Wales to Euro 2024
The wing-back has gone on winning runs at Burnley and Leeds after sporting the new look.
Wales vs Poland talking points
Rewriting history
Wales must rewrite history to reach Euro 2024 because their record against Poland is abysmal. Played 10, lost seven, drawn two and only one win.
That 2-0 victory came in their maiden clash in March 1973 when Leighton James and Trevor Hockey scored in a World Cup qualifier.
It has been downhill for Wales ever since with Poland winning the last six, including a Nations League double header in 2022. Poland produced a late sucker punch to win 2-1 in Wroclaw and Karol Swiderski settled a tight Cardiff contest three months later.
Wales vs Poland talking points
Red-hot Robert
With Gareth Bale enjoying retirement on the golf course, Poland can lay claim to having the play-off final’s one superstar – Robert Lewandowski.
The Barcelona striker may be 35 now, but he is still finding the net with incredible regularity. Lewandowski has seven goals in his last nine Barcelona appearances and 23 for club and country this season.
With 82 Poland goals, only Romelu Lukaku (83), Ferenc Puskas (84) and Cristiano Ronaldo (128) have scored more in men’s international football in Europe.
Stopping Lewandowski will be vital for Wales.
Wales vs Poland talking points
Ramsey role reduced
Skipper Aaron Ramsey dominated much of the pre-Finland talk as the Cardiff midfielder was the subject of a club versus country row.
The truth, however, was that the 33-year-old was never going to start after an injury-hit season and, in the event, Ramsey did not get on the pitch at all.
He will be on the bench against Poland again and, although he remains a considerable influence in the dressing room, Page is only likely to use him in case of an emergency.
Wales vs Poland talking points
On the same Page
Wales boss Rob Page sprang a surprise in his semi-final line-up against Finland, opting to keep Kieffer Moore on the bench and choosing a three-man strikeforce of Brennan Johnson, David Brooks and Harry Wilson.
It was a bold call with targetman Moore in such good form at Ipswich. But Brooks and Johnson scored in an emphatic 4-1 win and Wilson was a constant threat with the Wales attack all on the same page.
Daniel James also scored and impressed coming off the bench, and Page now has another tough selection call to make.
Wales vs Poland talking points
Golden era
Qualifying for a third successive European Championship, and a fourth major tournament out of five, would extend Wales’ golden era.
While that record would be expected by many countries, it would represent a huge achievement for a nation with a population of just over three million and one that did not reach a major tournament between 1958 and 2016.
It would also be achieved without their retired former captain Gareth Bale, who did so much in previous qualifying campaigns to get them over the line.
Wales ‘prepared for tough challenge’ of Euro 2024 play-off final against Poland
Rob Page insists Wales are “prepared for a tough challenge” as they look to book their place at Euro 2024.
The Dragons host Poland in a play-off final at the Cardiff City Stadium on Tuesday 26 March, with a spot in Germany this summer at stake.
Victory would see the nation play at a third successive European Championship and a fourth major tournament out of five after qualifying for the 2022 World Cup.
Wales to get the job done?
This summer’s European Championship features an expanded 24-team format with Nations League-assisted play-offs allowing more teams to qualify for the tournament proper.
Should Wales win this evening, it would mean that more teams will have qualified for the competition from their original five-team qualifying group than have failed to.
Getting the job done against Poland and reaching Euro 2024 will complete a remarkable turnaround for Wales who looked to have throw away their chances after consecutive defeats to Armenia and Turkey last summer.
The home loss to Armenia was damaging and raised questions over the effectiveness of manager Rob Page who will not be able to answer them until tonight’s result is known.
Can Wales reach Euro 2024?
Wales are currently in their most successful era and are aiming to reach a third successive European Championship.
"It would be a great achievement for us to qualify," said manager Rob Page, "Whenever you go through a campaign, you’re always going to get bumps in the road, especially in transition, and we had one in the summer.
"What pleases me is the reaction we had since then. To go unbeaten in seven and to play in the manner we’ve done. It really, really pleases me.
"I’d be an extremely proud man if we get the job done."
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