The Netherlands have come a lot closer to their ticket for the 2024 European Championship in Germany. Virgil van Dijk secured an important 1-0 (0-0) win in Greece with a penalty on Monday (October 16, 2023).
The Liverpool FC defender scored in the third minute of added time and ensured that Bond coach Ronald Koeman’s team moved up to second place in the table. For the European Championship ticket, Oranje only needs to win one of the two remaining qualifying games.
Wout Weghorst (28th) could have taken the lead. However, he missed the big chance to make it 1-0 when his weak penalty shot was missed by former German U21 goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos. Overall, the Dutch did not make enough of their clear superiority.
In Group B, France had already secured their ticket to the European Championships last Friday. The vice world champion is the last qualifying opponent for Greece on November 21st. The Dutch still play against Ireland (18th) and Gibraltar (21st).
Ronaldo scores twice in Portugal win
Like France, Portugal is already safe at EURO 2024 and, like the runner-up, is the only team still on track to qualify perfectly. The 2016 European champion also won the eighth game in the 5-0 (5-0) win in Bosnia-Herzegovina. Cristiano Ronaldo (5th/20th) quickly secured a comfortable lead, Bruno Fernandes (25th), Joao Cancelo (32nd) and Joao Felix (42nd) completed the sweeping victory.
Austria also at the European Championships
In the afternoon, Austria had already qualified as the eighth nation for next year’s European Championships. After that team coach Ralf Rangnick had lost three days earlier against Belgium (2:3), who qualified through the win, and used their second victory in a 1-0 win in Azerbaijan matchball and is taking part in the European Championship finals for the third time in a row.
“Goosebumps. It means a lot to us”said Marcel Sabitzer, who scored the decisive goal with a penalty. “We tried to play attractive football fans to inspire again. We have developed a euphoria, not too much, but there is appreciation.”
Rangnick-Elf survives heated end
In a weak game, Sabitzer, who only came on as a substitute in the second half, took the decisive penalty himself. An opponent in the wall blocked his free kick with his hand, after which the Dortmund midfielder kept his nerve (48′).
However, they were put to the test enormously in the final phase. In the extremely heated final minutes, in which Guido Burgstaller was sent off with a yellow-red card, Azerbaijan still had a great opportunity to score an equalizer. However, Toral Bayramov missed a completely free shot from close range and only hit the outside post (90th + 1). Austria was allowed to celebrate.
Belgium against Sweden canceled
However, the mood in the other group game was completely different: the game between Belgium and Sweden was canceled at half-time at 1-1 due to a terror warning in Brussels. Shortly before the game, according to consistent media reports, two Swedes were killed; the crime is said to have taken place just five kilometers from the stadium.