Euro 2024 round-up: Croatia secure last automatic qualifying spot ahead of Wales

Croatia became the 20th and last team to qualify automatically for Euro 2024 as Ante Budimir's goal earned them a 1-0 win at home to Armenia.

Zlatko Dalic’s side went into Group D’s final fixtures two points ahead of Wales, who knew they would need to beat already-qualified Turkey to have any chance of finishing in the top two.

Neco Williams’ early goal gave Wales hope but Yusuf Yazici’s controversial second-half penalty – awarded after the hosts had three stronger spot-kick appeals rejected – earned Turkey a 1-1 draw and the point required to top Group D.

By then Croatia were already in control of their own destiny thanks to Budimir’s strike two minutes before half-time, successfully seeing the game out in the second period to secure their ticket to Germany next summer and leave Wales facing the play-offs.

Group B winners France were held 2-2 in Greece.

Les Bleus led at half-time through Randal Kolo Muani but Anastasios Bakasetas and Fotis Ioannidis gave Greece a shock lead in Athens, only for Youssouf Fofana to level.

Calvin Stengs scored a hat-trick as group runners-up Netherlands hammered minnows Gibraltar 6-0 with Mats Wieffer, Teun Koopmeiners and Cody Gakpo also on target.

Greece finished third on 13 points from eight games with Ireland seven points further back in fourth.

Romania beat fellow qualifiers Switzerland 1-0 to top Group I, Denis Alibec with the goal early in the second half.

Israel beat Andorra 2-0 thanks to Joan Cervos’ own goal and Gadi Kinda’s strike, while Dmitri Antilevskiy scored Belarus’ winner against Kosovo.

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