Wales will host Finland in their Euro 2024 qualification play-off semi-final next March, with Poland or Estonia awaiting Rob Page’s team in the final should they advance.
Wales missed out on automatic qualification for the tournament after playing out back-to-back 1-1 draws with Armenia and Turkey in the November international break, with Page’s men seeing three penalty appeals denied before a controversial spot-kick was given against them in the latter game.
Those results meant they finished second in Group D, four points adrift of second-placed Croatia and five behind Turkey at the summit.
However, because only one other team who played in League A of the 2022-23 UEFA Nations League missed out on automatic qualification (Poland), Wales were handed a second chance in the play-offs.
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The play-offs are comprised of three separate pathways, with four teams facing off in one-legged knockout tournaments in each, and Wales were guaranteed a home tie against one of Finland, Ukraine or Iceland ahead of Thursday’s draw.
Finland were the team picked to travel to Cardiff on March 21 next year, and whoever advances will have home advantage against the winner of Poland’s tie with Estonia in the March 26 final, with a place at the Euros at stake.
Finland finished third in Group H as Denmark and Slovenia took the automatic spots, and Teemu Pukki and company are looking to qualify for just their second major tournament after suffering a group-stage exit at Euro 2020.
Wales have won both of their previous competitive meetings with Finland, claiming 3-1 and 1-0 victories against them in the 2020-21 edition of the Nations League.
GEMAU AIL-GYFLE ????????/????????????????
Two home matches away from reaching the #EURO2024 finals. #TogetherStronger pic.twitter.com/bBxmaA9AFA
— Wales ???????????????????????????? (@Cymru) November 23, 2023
