Israel out of Euro 2024 chase, Ukraine in dramatic fightback
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Iceland players celebrate after scoring against Israel in the 4-1 Euro 2024 play-off semi-finals.
PHOTO: AFP
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PARIS – Israel goalkeeper Omri Glazer says they paid the price for conceding “easy goals”, as their hopes of reaching the European Championship
War-torn Ukraine, meanwhile, stayed on course for Euro 2024 in Germany with a last-gasp comeback in their 2-1 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina in Zenica.
Due to the ongoing conflict with Hamas, Israel’s tie was switched to Budapest and their aim of making the Finals of any major competition for the first time since the 1970 World Cup enjoyed a confident start.
On the half-hour mark, Daniel Leo Gretarsson was punished for bringing down Eran Zahavi. The veteran striker picked himself up to steer his penalty past Hakon Valdimarsson in the Iceland goal.
But the lead lasted less than 10 minutes, when Genoa’s Albert Gudmundsson curled in a free kick to equalise.
Just three minutes before half-time, Iceland, who made the quarter-finals at Euro 2016, were ahead.
Gudmundsson swept over a corner and midfielder Arnor Ingvi Traustason was on hand to lash the ball home off a deflection which wrong-footed Glazer.
“It’s very disappointing. We were one goal ahead and then we conceded two easy goals before half-time,” said the goalkeeper.
Israel’s Roy Revivo was sent off in the 73rd minute but his team were then handed a golden chance to equalise when Gudmundur Thorarinsson was penalised for handball.
However, this time Zahavi dragged his penalty wide and Iceland soon made him pay.
In the 83rd minute, Gudmundsson grabbed his second goal after a surging run and then completed his hat-trick as the clock ran down.
“It’s never easy when it’s 11 against 10, and sometimes you miss a penalty, it’s part of football,” added Glazer. “Then we gambled more.
“We lost, and we need to look in the mirror at what we did well, and what not so well.”
Iceland will now face Ukraine on March 26, with the winners claiming a spot in Euro 2024.
“We were lacking goals earlier in qualification last year, and now we have Albert Gudmundsson back, and he showed that he’s a class player,” said Iceland coach Age Hareide.
Ukraine’s hopes of making it to successive Euros were kept alive after a dramatic come-from-behind 2-1 win over Bosnia.
Defender Amar Dedic unleashed a powerful drive just before the hour mark, with the ball deflected into his own goal by the unfortunate Mykola Matviyenko to give Bosnia the lead.
However, two goals inside four minutes in the dying exchanges gave Ukraine victory.
In the 85th minute, Roman Yaremchuk equalised from a cross by Yukhym Konoplia.
Artem Dovbyk, whose goals have driven Girona closer to a Champions League place in Spain, headed in Ukraine’s winner with two minutes left.
“Our players wanted to win and attacked as much as they could,” said Ukraine coach Serhiy Rebrov.
Wales, who powered past Finland 4-1 in Cardiff, will meet Poland, 5-1 destroyers of Estonia, in Cardiff on March 26 for the second Euro 2024 spot.
Rob Page’s men stormed into a two-goal lead, thanks to strikes from David Brooks and Neco Williams.
Teemu Pukki reduced the deficit just before the break, but Brennan Johnson and Daniel James netted in the second half to keep Wales’ dreams of reaching a third consecutive European Championship alive.
Poland, eyeing a fifth successive Euro appearance, crushed Estonia with goals from Przemyslaw Frankowski, Piotr Zielinski, Jakub Piotrowski, Nicola Zalewski and Sebastian Szymanski.
Georgia, looking to make the Finals of a major tournament for the first time, defeated Luxembourg 2-0 in Tbilisi with both goals coming from Budu Zivzivadze.
They will face 2004 champions Greece for a place in the Germany showpiece.
The Greeks were far too strong for Kazakhstan in Athens, winning 5-0 with four of the goals coming in the opening 40 minutes for Gus Poyet’s team. AFP
