After the loss to Slovenia, the European Championship place is no longer in Huuhkajie’s own hands in the actual qualification. However, the back door to the European Championships may open for the squeamish.
The European Championship spot that the Huhkajis were chasing slipped out of their hands when Finland suffered a 0-3 away defeat in Slovenia. On the other hand, Denmark did not stumble against Kazakhstan on Saturday night, but celebrated a 3-1 victory at home.
Now, even the fact that Slovenia would lose to Denmark, the top country in the group, later in the qualifiers is not enough for Finland to qualify for the European Championships. Slovenia also has to lose points against Northern Ireland and Kazakhstan. So assuming that Denmark doesn’t screw up in their own games.
Slovenia and Finland have three matches left. Five points are enough for Slovenia to keep Finland behind them.
Slovenia still faces Northern Ireland, Denmark and Kazakhstan. Slovenia can therefore afford to lose to Denmark. Finland still faces Kazakhstan, Northern Ireland and San Marino. In practice, Finland should win all their remaining matches in order to keep the EC dream alive.
In addition to Slovenia, Denmark also faces San Marino and Northern Ireland in the qualifiers.
The two best from the EC qualifying group advance to the games.
The two best from all ten qualifying groups advance directly to next summer’s European Championships. In addition to that, the race host Germany has already secured the race venue. The other three spots for the 24-team European Championship will be decided in the further qualifiers.
12 teams can get there with the results of the 2022–2023 Nations League. The 12 teams are divided into three paths based on the levels of the Nations League. The winners of the trails get to the European Championships.
Finland played in the Nations League at the B level. Out of that, the best four who were left out of the European Championship in the qualifiers will get to the European Championship further qualification.
Israel, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Serbia and Scotland finished ahead of Finland in the B-league. Of these, the latter two are locked in a direct European Championship place, so Finland is firmly locked in the next qualifying place, described as a “spare bullet”.
The Football Rankings account on the messaging service X calculated that Finland would currently face Bosnia-Herzegovina in the next round. After that, we should still win another pair of matches. With these prospects, Finland’s possible opponent would be Israel, Ukraine or Iceland. Finland can also end up on the A-path side, where possible opponents would be Wales and after that Poland or Estonia.
From Finland’s group, Kazakhstan is also likely to qualify for the European Championship via the C-path.
Next year, the European Championship further qualifiers will be played at the end of March.
Finland continues the EC qualifiers on Tuesday 17.10. in a home match against Kazakhstan.
23.3. Denmark–Finland 3 to 1
26.3. Northern Ireland–Finland 0–1
16.6. Finland–Slovenia 2–0
19.6. Finland–San Marino 6–0
7.9. Kazakhstan–Finland 0–1
10.9. Finland–Denmark 0–1
14.10. Slovenia–Finland 3–0
Tue 17.10. at 19 Finland–Kazakhstan
Fri 17.11. at 19 Finland–Northern Ireland
Mon 20.11. at 21:45 San Marino–Finland
The best two of the group will qualify for the summer 2024 European Championships, which will be played in Germany.
shows all Huuhkajie’s qualifying matches live.