Why Ukraine or Italy will enter EURO 2024 play-offs

Whatever happens in Leverkusen on Monday, either Italy or Ukraine will go into the play-offs for EURO 2024 qualification.

The two teams face off on neutral turf tomorrow at 19.45 GMT.

England have already qualified and guaranteed top spot in the group on 19 points from seven games.

Italy and Ukraine are both on 13 points, but because the Azzurri won 2-1 at San Siro in September, a draw would send them through thanks to a superior head-to-head record.

The good news for Ukraine is that Serbia secured their own qualification for the tournament this afternoon.

That means that if Ukraine don’t win and finish third, they will still be guaranteed a place in the play-offs as one of the top four Nations League B teams along with Bosnia and Herzegovina and Finland.

Italy already knew they would be reserved a play-off spot, as it was a reward for winning their Nations League group last time out.

So whatever happens on Monday, one of these two teams will go directly into the group phase in Germany next summer, while the other has another opportunity to qualify via the play-offs.

There are already 17 nations qualified, another four will book their spot over the next couple of days and a further three places are decided in the play-offs in November.