Wales will have to go through the play-offs if they are to reach Euro 2024 as they were held to a home draw by Turkey on Tuesday to miss out on the automatic qualification spots in Group D.
Rob Page’s men needed to beat Turkey at the Cardiff City Stadium and hope for a Croatia slip-up at home to Armenia, but neither ended up happening and Wales will have to go through the play-offs in March if they are to make the tournament in Germany next year.
Things were going well for Wales for much of the first half, taking the lead after just seven minutes through Neco Williams while the news from Croatia was positive as Armenia managed to keep out their hosts.
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However, Ante Budimir put Croatia ahead just before half-time, and things went from bad to worse for Wales after the break as a soft penalty decision allowed Yusuf Yazici to level in Cardiff.
Brennan Johnson saw a late goal ruled out as Wales desperately hunted a winner, though it would not have mattered anyway as Croatia saw out the remaining minutes to seal their place at Euro 2024 and condemn the Dragons to the play-offs.
🇭🇷 #EURO2024, here we come! 🎆
🇭🇷 @EURO2024, wir kommen! 🎇#CROATIA #FAMILY #VATRENI❤️🔥 PIC.TWITTER.COM/MYF8ODZM8C— HNS (@HNS_CFF) NOVEMBER 21, 2023
Wales will be left to rue picking up just one point from their two games with Armenia as they finish third in Group D, four points behind Croatia, though Page’s men will take confidence from their successful play-off meeting with Ukraine that helped them reach the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Wales fans will now await the draw in Switzerland on Thursday to find out who will stand between them and the tournament in Germany next year, with potential opponents including Finland and Iceland.
