Scotland eliminated Serbia on penalties, Juraj Kucka scored to send Slovakia to Euro 2020, despite a Milan Skriniar own goal, and Hungary completed a stoppage-time turnaround against Iceland.
The play-offs were certainly dramatic today, as the calendar is completed for next summer’s European Championship.
Scotland eliminated Serbia on penalties, Juraj Kucka scored to send Slovakia to Euro 2020, despite a Milan Skriniar own goal, and Hungary completed a stoppage-time turnaround against Iceland.
The play-offs were certainly dramatic today, as the calendar is completed for next summer’s European Championship.
Genoa forward Goran Pandev had already found the only goal of the game to book North Macedonia’s place in their first ever major tournament, winning 1-0 away to Georgia.
They will be in Group D with the Netherlands, Ukraine and Austria.
Another Serie A player was on target this evening, as Parma’s Juraj Kucka pounced on a defensive error to give Slovakia the lead away to Northern Ireland.
However, with just three minutes left on the clock, Inter defender Milan Skriniar accidentally turned a Paddy McNair cross into his own net for the equaliser.
Kyle Lafferty, now in Serie B with Reggina, almost turned the game around completely for the hosts in stoppages when thumping the woodwork, but that went to extra time.
Michal Duris was quick to react when a long Kucka ball ricocheted off Jonny Evans to restore the Slovakian lead.
Stanislav Lobotka’s Slovakia will go into Group E with Spain, Sweden and Poland.
Scotland thought they’d done enough with Ryan Christie’s snooker shot into the far bottom corner, but at the 90th minute, Luka Jovic nodded in a corner for the Serbian equaliser.
It went to extra time in Belgrade as well, with several Serie A players lining up including Torino’s Sasa Lukic, Verona winger Darko Lazovic and Fiorentina defender Nikola Milenkovic.
Serbia poured forward constantly in the extra half-hour, but were unable to find a breakthrough, so it had to be decided on penalties.
They were all converted save for the final kick, as David Marshall got his hand to Aleksandar Mitrovic’s spot-kick.
Scotland will be in Group D with England, Croatia and the Czech Republic.
Hungary were the only side to complete their turnaround within normal time, as Iceland had scored early doors through Gylfi Sigurdsson.
However, late substitute Loic Nego got the equaliser four minutes after coming on, with Milan and Napoli transfer target Dominik Szoboszlai snatching Hungary’s 2-1 win deep into stoppages with a sensational counter-attack.
That means Hungary and their coach Marco Rossi will be at Euro 2020 next summer, in the same group as France, Germany and Portugal.