Poland, Georgia, Ukraine qualify for Euro 2024 in Germany

The final three berths for the 2024 UEFA European Championship (Euro 2024) in Germany went to Poland, Georgia and Ukraine after the three teams won in the tournament's qualification playoff finals on Tuesday.

Poland knocked out Wales 5-4 in a penalty shoot-out after they held each other goalless for 120 minutes at the Cardiff City Stadium in Cardiff, Wales. The home team's center back Chris Mepham was thrown out of the game in the final minutes of extra time with a second yellow card for fouling Robert Lewandowski.

Both teams made all four of their first four penalties. The fifth player of Poland to shoot, Krzysztof Piatek, scored his kick and left all pressure on Dan James. His shot was denied by Wojciech Szczesny, and so was Wales's hope for Euro 2024.

Poland will be in Group D with France, the Netherlands and Austria. They will play their first game against the Netherlands at Volksparkstadion in Hamburg on June 16.

Georgia too went through penalties to earn their qualification beating Greece 4-2 at Boris Paichadze Dinamo Arena in Tbilisi, Georgia. One red card was shown in this game as well, to Giorgi Loria, the backup goalkeeper of the home team at the end of the first half. He was involved in a brawl between his teammate Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Greece's Petros Mantalos.

Giorgi Mamardashvili, the starting goalie of Georgia, saved Greece's first penalty by Anastasios Bakasetas for his side to lead 2-1 after two rounds. Georges Mikautadze's missed shot gave Greece hope after Andreas Bouchalakis converted his penalty to tie at 2-2. However, that hope was soon blown away by Giorgos Giakoumakis' shot in the fourth round. In the end, Nika Kvekveskiri sealed the deal for Georgia by shooting the ball into the bottom left corner.

In their first-ever European Championship, Georgia will compete with Portugal, the Czech Republic and Türkiye, who will be their first opponents at Westfalenstadion in Dortmund on June 18.

Ukraine made their path to Euro 2024 by defeating Iceland 2-1 at the Tarczynski Arena Wroclaw in Wroclaw, Poland. Viktor Tsygankov and Mykhailo Mudryk netted in the second half for Ukraine to come back from a one-goal deficit resulted by Albert Gudmundsson's goal in the 30th minute.

Ukraine will play against Belgium, Slovakia and Romania in Group E at the Euro 2024, starting with Romania at Allianz Arena in Munich on June 17.