Wales vs Poland LIVE! Euro 2024 play-off final result, match stream and latest updates today
Wales suffered heartbreak in their first-ever penalty shoot-out as Poland booked their place at Euro 2024 after a goalless 120 minutes.
Spot-kicks were needed on a tense evening in which Ben Davies had a first-half header disallowed for offside but chances were scarce in this play-off final. Wales were reduced to 10 in the final seconds as Chris Mepham was banished for a second yellow card and Cardiff City Stadium held its breath following an impromptu rendition of the national anthem.
Poland converted five perfect penalties with Robert Lewandowski, Sebastian Szymanski, Przemyslaw Frankowski, Nicola Zalewski and Krzysztof Piatek successful against Danny Ward.
Wales matched them as Ben Davies, Kieffer Moore - via the underside of the crossbar - Harry Wilson and Neco Williams scored. But Daniel James saw his effort pushed out by Wojciech Szczesny as Wales lost 5-4 on penalties and wild Polish celebrations began.
Wales vs Poland highlights
OFFSIDE! Davies header ruled out
RED CARD! Mepham sent off in extra-time
PENALTIES! James miss ends Wales' campaign
Wales heartbreak as penalties send Poland to Euro 2024
22:50 , Marc Mayo
The final ticket to Euro 2024 went to Poland after a tense play-off final with Wales was decided by the tightest of penalty shootouts in Cardiff.
A goalless 120 minutes led to nine spot-kicks scored in a row until Dan James’ effort was saved by Wojciech Szczesny to deny the Dragons a third consecutive trip to the European Championship.
Thanks for joining us in tonight’s live blog!
Recap the action with our match report!
The road to Berlin is set
22:46 , Marc Mayo
We now know all 24 teams who will be playing at Euro 2024 and their path to the final.
Poland slot into Group D with France, Austria and the Netherlands
Check out the schedule in full!
Watch the winning moment
22:36 , Marc Mayo
Wojciech Szczesny finally delivered a telling blow in this tightest of ties.
Poland are through to #EURO2024 ✅
Wojciech Szczęsny saves Dan James' spot kick and Wales bow out 🇵🇱 pic.twitter.com/u3HeaLPKmF— Viaplay Sports UK (@ViaplaySportsUK) March 26, 2024
POLAND ARE OFF TO EURO 2024
22:31 , Marc Mayo
Heartbreak for Wales!
It came down to the very last of the ten spot-kicks for Dan James to be denied by Wojciech Szczesny.
The home fans applaud their players off the pitch. Poland are jubilant!
Wales vs Poland | Penalty shootout
22:30 , Marc Mayo
Dan James has to score AND IT’S SAVED!
IT’S ALL OVER! POLAND ARE GOING TO EURO 2024!
Wales 4-5 Poland
Wales vs Poland | Penalty shootout
22:29 , Marc Mayo
Basically sudden death now and Krzysztof Piatek scores!
Wales 4-5 Poland
Wales vs Poland | Penalty shootout
22:28 , Marc Mayo
Not much margin for error as Neco Williams steps up...
Bottom corner!
Wales 4-4 Poland
Wales vs Poland | Penalty shootout
22:27 , Marc Mayo
Nicola Zalewski slots home just past Danny Ward’s dive!
Wales 3-4 Poland
Wales vs Poland | Penalty shootout
22:26 , Marc Mayo
Five perfect spot-kicks so far and Harry Wilson is up to make it six.
He does! Straight down the middle.
Wales 3-3 Poland
Wales vs Poland | Penalty shootout
22:26 , Marc Mayo
Przemyslaw Frankowski fires high and into the roof of the net!
Wales 2-3 Poland
Wales vs Poland | Penalty shootout
22:25 , Marc Mayo
Kieffer Moore, ever reliable for Wales... SCORES!
Off the underside of the bar!
Wales 2-2 Poland
Wales vs Poland | Penalty shootout
22:24 , Marc Mayo
Fenerbahce midfielder Sebastian Szymanski, one of the Polish substitutes, will go next.
Hard and down the middle, he scores!
Wales 1-2 Poland
Wales vs Poland | Penalty shootout
22:23 , Marc Mayo
Ben Davies now for Wales as both captains go first.
HE SCORES!
Wales 1-1 Poland
Wales vs Poland | Penalty shootout
22:23 , Marc Mayo
Barcelona and Poland talisman Robert Lewandowski to take the first penalty.
A stuttered run-up and he scores!
Wales 0-1 Poland
Wales vs Poland | Penalty shootout
22:22 , Marc Mayo
Danny Ward vs Wojciech Szczesny then.
Wales, according to transfermarkt have never taken part in a major penalty shootout! Poland won one and lost one at Euro 2016...
It will be Robert Lewandowski up first...
Wales vs Poland | Penalty shootout
22:21 , Marc Mayo
The referee goes over the coin toss with Robert Lewandowski and Ben Davies.
It will be in front of the Wales fans and Poland decide who goes first!
FT (ET) | 🏴 0-0 🇵🇱
A penalty shootout will decide who claims the final spot at EURO 2024.
💻 https://t.co/M51pqvjLd7#TogetherStronger pic.twitter.com/95P9C3g2CB— Wales 🏴 (@Cymru) March 26, 2024
Penalty shootout
22:20 , Marc Mayo
The Welsh fans continue to make brilliant noise as both teams go over their final team talks.
FULL TIME!
22:18 , Marc Mayo
Here we go then, the last chance win in it normal play...
Headed clear! To penalties we go!
RED CARD!
22:17 , Marc Mayo
Booking for Chris Mepham, that’s his second of the night!
Poland now have a chance to test ten men with a late, late free-kick...
Wales 0-0 Poland | 120 mins
22:16 , Marc Mayo
One minute added on.
Wales 0-0 Poland | 118 mins
22:14 , Marc Mayo
Wales have struggled to get a foot on the ball or assert any authority in this extra-time period.
A handball from Dan James allows Poland to load the box from a free-kick...
Wales 0-0 Poland | 116 mins
22:12 , Marc Mayo
Solid defending from Dan James, whose slotted in as right wing-back for much of his cameo tonight, to slide in and prevent a cross from reaching the six-yard box.
The corner from the left, an out-swinger, is headed out by Kieffer Moore.
Wales 0-0 Poland | 113 mins
22:09 , Marc Mayo
Danny Ward has had a quiet night (that’s the first time I’ve written his name all night!) but is out to punch the corner.
Poland still yet to have a shot on target.
Wales changes coming here as Nathan Broadhead replaces the substitute David Brooks, who only came on at 84 minutes due to Connor Roberts’ injury.
Wales 0-0 Poland | 112 mins
22:07 , Marc Mayo
It’s the visitors on the front foot as Neco Williams loses his runner and Wales clear for a corner.
Wales 0-0 Poland | 110 mins
22:05 , Marc Mayo
Neither side is throwing the kitchen sink at it as penalties loom. A lot of tired bodies out there.
Wales 0-0 Poland | 109 mins
22:04 , Marc Mayo
Sebastian Szymanski pops up in the Welsh box to head goalwards. Comfortably wide.
Wales 0-0 Poland | 106 mins
22:03 , Marc Mayo
That was the fourth Polish change to just two from Wales.
Will we see Rabbi Matondo, Liam Cullen or Nathan Broadhead in the final knockings from Rob Page? Perhaps penalties will decide who comes on...
Kick-off!
22:01 , Marc Mayo
Poland bring Taras Romanchuk on for Jakub Piotrowski in the midfield.
The visitors kick us off for the final 15 minutes of normal play in this tie, one way or another.
Nothing to separate these teams
21:59 , Marc Mayo
One of these sides will secure a ticket to Euro 2024 in the next half an hour or so.
Which one? Err, not a scooby, mate.
Impossible to predict which way this one will swing.
HT (ET) | 🏴 0-0 🇵🇱
Still no breakthrough 🚫
💻 https://t.co/M51pqvjLd7#TogetherStronger pic.twitter.com/QG5TZVe5J7— Wales 🏴 (@Cymru) March 26, 2024
Half time in extra time!
21:58 , Marc Mayo
Still goalless.
Wales 0-0 Poland | 103 mins
21:57 , Marc Mayo
Poland with a major escape after a dreadful pass from Jakub Piotrowski hands Kieffer Moore a run at the defence - and he can only shoot into his marker. Wojciech Szczesny collects.
Wales 0-0 Poland | 101 mins
21:54 , Marc Mayo
Sebastian Szymanski on for Poland playmaker Piotr Zielinski.
Wales 0-0 Poland | 100 mins
21:53 , Marc Mayo
CHANCES!
Wojciech Szczesny with a vital touch on Ben Davies cross as a Wales attacker prepared to slot home.
Up the other end and Jakub Piotrowski’s shot from range is inches wide.
Blimey...
Wales 0-0 Poland | 98 mins
21:51 , Marc Mayo
Chris Mepham booked for dragging Nicola Zalewski back after being spun by the wing-back.
Koniec podstawowego czasu gry, ale nie koniec emocji i szans na awans na mistrzostwa Europy! Przed nami DOGRYWKA 🔜
Walczymy dalej! ✊
___________
90' #WALPOL 0-0 🏴🇵🇱 pic.twitter.com/EeXUSdB1Ar— Łączy nas piłka (@LaczyNasPilka) March 26, 2024
Wales 0-0 Poland | 96 mins
21:49 , Marc Mayo
Harry Wilson and Neco Williams both stand over it, and it’s more like 30 yards out to be honest.
It’ll be Wilson... off the wall!
Wales 0-0 Poland | 94 mins
21:48 , Marc Mayo
Harry Brooks catches up to a long ball down the right wing yet Poland get back to calm the attack.
Good work from Harry Wilson draws a foul 25 yards out, dead-centre...
Wales 0-0 Poland | 92 mins
21:46 , Marc Mayo
Dangerous long throw into the Poland box and the flag is up and Ben Davies tries to spin his man to open up a shooting chance.
Extra-time: Kick-off!
21:43 , Marc Mayo
A pre-kick-off huddle from the Wales players and extra-time begins in Cardiff.
Just one spot left at Euro 2024
21:40 , Marc Mayo
Ukraine have produced a comeback to beat Iceland in the other Euro 2024 play-off final tonight, after Georgia beat Greece on penalties in the early kick-off.
Wales or Poland will be the final team to bag their ticket...
Mudryk in the 83rd minute! 😱
The @ChelseaFC player scores for Ukraine against Iceland in the #EURO2024 Play-Off Final and makes it 2-1 🇺🇦 pic.twitter.com/1wqIiI1Zd6— Viaplay Sports UK (@ViaplaySportsUK) March 26, 2024
Full time!
21:38 , Marc Mayo
We will require another 30 minutes, and maybe penalties, to settle this play-off final.
Wales 0-0 Poland | 90+2 mins
21:37 , Marc Mayo
Mild penalty claims as Kieffer Moore is held off at the far post and the ball goes into touch.
A very, very small grip and a subsequent nudge on the striker’s shirt by Jakub Kiwior isn’t enough, though.
Wales 0-0 Poland | 90 mins
21:34 , Marc Mayo
Kieffer Moore spins a pass into touch on the 18-yard line and the air has just seeped out of this game as the dawning realisation of extra-time looms.
Robert Lewandowski tries to settle matters from 25 yards but his low shot flashes wide.
Four added minutes.
Wales 0-0 Poland | 88 mins
21:31 , Marc Mayo
Really into the final knockings of normal time now and Poland surrender possession by the halfway line.
Plenty of challenges are flying in alongside some somewhat tired passes, from both teams.
A cry of ‘Wales, Wales’ tumbles off the home end as their team takes a moment on the ball, before a long ball to find Neco Williams is gobbled up by the goalkeeper.
Wales 0-0 Poland | 86 mins
21:30 , Marc Mayo
Neat play by Poland up by the Welsh corner flag until a woeful pass into the box is well overhit for a runner in space.
Wales think they’ve got a chance to attack up the other end but the ball is just out of play before Neco Williams’ flick.
Wales 0-0 Poland | 84 mins
21:28 , Marc Mayo
Connor Roberts has an issue and trudges off after treatment, so on comes David Brooks in a forward-thinking move by Rob Page.
Into the final 10. Let's keep pushing 👊
💻 https://t.co/M51pqvjLd7#TogetherStronger pic.twitter.com/HBkZTcoGqV— Wales 🏴 (@Cymru) March 26, 2024
Wales 0-0 Poland | 82 mins
21:26 , Marc Mayo
Fine covering defending by Jakub Kiwior to hoof Harry Wilson’s threatening run clear after a nice ball by Dan James, who had wriggled free of a challenge well.
Przemyslaw Frankowski is very lucky from the throw-in! He waits an age to clear a ball as a Welsh attacker lurked and then scuffed it straight into Wojciech Szczesny’s hands!
Wales 0-0 Poland | 80 mins
21:24 , Marc Mayo
As if to sum up the lack of end product Poland have put on display tonight, Przemyslaw Frankowski takes up the ball on the right with acres of space and hits the opposite corner flag with his cross.
Two changes from the visitors, off come Karol Swiderski and Jan Bednarek for Bartosz Salamon and Krzysztof Piatek.
Wales 0-0 Poland | 76 mins
21:21 , Marc Mayo
Neco Williams swings a ball into the box and Chris Mepham’s header is easy for the keeper to pluck out the sky.
Poland come forward quickly but Nicola Zalewski flies a shot well off target.
Wales 0-0 Poland | 73 mins
21:16 , Marc Mayo
Nicola Zalewski booked for a late, high-foot challenge on Connor Roberts.
Wales 0-0 Poland | 71 mins
21:14 , Marc Mayo
Brennan Johnson’s number goes up for Dan James to come on, the Spurs forward has played well so a little surprise to see him depart instead of Harry Wilson.
Rob Page’s first roll of the dice with 20 minutes to go.
Wales 0-0 Poland | 70 mins
21:13 , Marc Mayo
Connor Roberts fashions a cross from the right flank and it’s curling away from Kieffer Moore as he nods it downwards, and the keeper grabs easily enough.
Wales 0-0 Poland | 68 mins
21:12 , Marc Mayo
Perhaps the toughest five-ten minute spell of the game for Wales and it’s little surprise to see Dan James getting ready on the bench.
Before that, another Polish cross looks threatening but Karol Swiderski gets too much on his flicked header, and it evades the far-post runner.
Wales 0-0 Poland | 65 mins
21:09 , Marc Mayo
CLOSE!
Short corner is swung in towards Jakub Kiwior but he catches it poorly from close-range and shoots over.
Wales 0-0 Poland | 62 mins
21:07 , Marc Mayo
The home crowd rises to its feet for a long throw but it’s too weak and cleared.
It feels like every time one of these teams build up a head of steam, they just lack the ruthless edge to score and the pendulum swings the other way.
Kilka obrazków z pierwszej połowy 📸
Fot. @Cyfrasport
___________
HT #WALPOL 0-0🏴🇵🇱 pic.twitter.com/mqzDQVO6ma— Łączy nas piłka (@LaczyNasPilka) March 26, 2024
Wales 0-0 Poland | 59 mins
21:03 , Marc Mayo
Wojciech Szczesny comes out of his goal and is met by the stud of a diving Harry Wilson as he clears.
It’s play on as the goalkeeper stays down and a Welsh shot at the empty net is cleared! Bit of a surprise to see no foul given there.
Wales 0-0 Poland | 58 mins
21:02 , Marc Mayo
Decent spell from the Poles as a volley from distance is deflected out for a corner.
Piotr Zielinski is met by Robert Lewandowski but he heads over! Great pressure from Ben Davies to knock him off-balance at the last moment.
Wales 0-0 Poland | 55 mins
20:59 , Marc Mayo
Joe Rodon outmuscles Robert Lewandowski to shut down Poland’s most threatening move of the half.
Jordan James booked for a late lunge in midfield.
Watch Wojciech Szczesny's stunning save
20:56 , Marc Mayo
The difference between a Polish clean sheet and Wales going ahead in this game.
Wojciech Szczęsny 🧤
Am arbediad gan y golwr!
47' 0-0
🏴🇵🇱 @S4C | #EURO2024 pic.twitter.com/0TkFUNvEhI— Sgorio ⚽️ (@sgorio) March 26, 2024
Wales 0-0 Poland | 51 mins
20:55 , Marc Mayo
More good work from Wojciech Szczesny to punch clear a Connor Roberts cross as Ben Davies bumps into the ex-Arsenal goalkeeper.
Poland give it away from the long ball upfield and Jakub Piotrowski chops Kieffer Moore for a booking. The hosts’ pressure is building...
Wales 0-0 Poland | 49 mins
20:53 , Marc Mayo
SAVE!
Beautiful dive from Wojciech Szczesny to deny Kieffer Moore’s header which looked destined for the top corner!
Wales 0-0 Poland | 47 mins
20:51 , Marc Mayo
No changes for either team and Neco Williams is out quick to disrupt Poland’s possession and win the ball in the opposition half, before they take the chance to settle on the ball themselves.
Kick-off!
20:49 , Marc Mayo
Wales out first followed by the visitors.
This Euro 2024 play-off final must be decided tonight, with extra-time then penalties if required.
We’re back underway for the second half.
Watch Ben Davies' disallowed goal
20:48 , Marc Mayo
It’s the tightest of offside calls that keeps us level at the break.
AR YR EGWYL: @Cymru 0-0 Gwlad Pwyl
Ben Davies yn rhwydo... ond yr amddiffynnwr yn camsefyll.
🏴🇵🇱 | @S4C pic.twitter.com/vPN0QMgqpI— Sgorio ⚽️ (@sgorio) March 26, 2024
Wales have grown into this game
20:42 , Marc Mayo
It was a nervy start from the hosts as they struggled to get on the ball but their confidence has grown a lot as the game wore on.
Ben Davies came closest with a header midway through the half before what looked like his breakthrough in stoppage time was chalked off for offside.
Neither side has managed a shot on target and you fancy one goal to decide it.
Around the grounds
20:37 , Marc Mayo
Iceland lead Ukraine in the other Euro 2024 play-off final, after Georgia beat Greece earlier on penalties.
Lots of international friendlies as well with Northern Ireland leading Scotland in Glasgow and Wembley silenced by Belgium beating England 2-1.
Germany and the Netherlands are level at 1-1 while France lead Chile.
Iceland lead against Ukraine 🇮🇸
What a hit by Albert Guðmundsson in the #EURO2024 Play-Off Final 👏 pic.twitter.com/rkvXFFBoHX— Viaplay Sports UK (@ViaplaySportsUK) March 26, 2024
Half time!
20:33 , Marc Mayo
VAR green lights the decision, it looked a really tight one.
And that’s the half-time whistle!
GOAL DISALLOWED!
20:32 , Marc Mayo
The Dragons are on the front foot without testing the goalkeeper - and have only one minute added on.
In comes a cross and it’s nodded back for Ben Davies to score! But the flag is up...
Wales 0-0 Poland | 41 mins
20:29 , Marc Mayo
Connor Roberts leaves Jakub Kiwior for dead and swings in a cross towards the six-yard box, yet the final, killer touch is lacking to set up a shooting chance.
Wales come again and Harry Wilson again very nearly on the end of a through ball.
Wales 0-0 Poland | 37 mins
20:24 , Marc Mayo
You sense Wales are realising there is little to fear about this Polish team, that they can commit a few more bodies forward with their direct attacks looking ready to punish space in behind.
Harry Wilson tries to do just that with a training-ground routine free-kick that is overhit for the chasing Ben Davies.
The noise in here. 😳
💻 https://t.co/M51pqvjLd7#TogetherStronger pic.twitter.com/CaOBl5rmDN— Wales 🏴 (@Cymru) March 26, 2024
Wales 0-0 Poland | 36 mins
20:22 , Marc Mayo
Vital touch by Ethan Ampadu!
A dangerous cross hooked towards the far post is met by Robert Lewandowski’s knockback and Ampadu is there to clear, before getting wiped out to win a foul for his troubles.
Wales 0-0 Poland | 35 mins
20:21 , Marc Mayo
Nice work by Neco Williams down the left but Jakub Kiwior clears his low cross towards Harry Wilson.
The pendulum is just swinging towards the hosts...
🤍❤️
___________
20' #WALPOL 0-0🏴🇵🇱 pic.twitter.com/rkiwr7AnSO— Łączy nas piłka (@LaczyNasPilka) March 26, 2024
Wales 0-0 Poland | 31 mins
20:17 , Marc Mayo
A decent spell on the ball for Wales, who hit it long via Ethan Ampadu and nearly bring Neco Williams into the box - only for his touch to let him down.
Wales 0-0 Poland | 27 mins
20:14 , Marc Mayo
Great run by Harry Wilson to his the byline and dink a cute cross into the six-yard box, but no one had gambled and it’s cleared.
A long throw-in is flicked goalwards and Kieffer Moore hurls a long leg at it by the far post... over the bar.
Wales 0-0 Poland | 25 mins
20:12 , Marc Mayo
There is a little bit of spice to this game with a few late lunges being landed after the ball is gone.
Let’s see who the game getting tetchy suits, as Poland stand over their next corner. Cleared.
CYMRU AM BYTH 📸
💻 https://t.co/M51pqvjLd7#TogetherStronger pic.twitter.com/RcSIwZN4kz— Wales 🏴 (@Cymru) March 26, 2024
Wales 0-0 Poland | 21 mins
20:07 , Marc Mayo
Kieffer Moore rises well to nod goalwards but the ball pings off the corner of his head and well wide of goal.
Wales 0-0 Poland | 20 mins
20:06 , Marc Mayo
Brennan Johnson is causing all of the issues for Poland right now, a quick ball in behind by Ben Davies sees his Tottenham teammate force a corner.
Wales 0-0 Poland | 17 mins
20:04 , Marc Mayo
The corner just evades an attacking touch and Wales break well through Harry Wilson and Brennan Johnson, who does fantastically to skip through challenges and keep the counter alive.
The hosts win their first corner of the night and it’s Wilson to take... just over from Ben Davies!
Wales 0-0 Poland | 15 mins
20:02 , Marc Mayo
Poland are certainly the more comfortable team on the ball with 60 per cent possession and now a first corner.
Wales 0-0 Poland | 12 mins
19:59 , Marc Mayo
Half a chance for Poland as a ball is swung in from the right and Karol Swiderski escapes his marker... but is just behind making contact on the cross.
Wales 0-0 Poland | 10 mins
19:56 , Marc Mayo
Home fans unhappy as Neco Williams clips Jakub Piotrowski after the Polish midfielder had won the ball. Looks like the full-back came off second best, too.
Ten minutes in and no shots on goal from either side, with both still feeling each other out.
Wales 0-0 Poland | 7 mins
19:53 , Marc Mayo
Neco Williams cuts inside nicely and curls a lovely cross towards the six-yard line but a Polish head stretches to clear as an attacker lurks.
Wales 0-0 Poland | 5 mins
19:52 , Marc Mayo
Poland are happiest in possession so far, trying to stretch Wales with passing across the back before probing balls upfield.
They’re being dealt with rather well by the hosts’ defence.
Up the other end, Brennan Johnson produces a smart turn to win a free-kick.
Wales 0-0 Poland | 2 mins
19:48 , Marc Mayo
Solid early press from Wales early on with both teams looking to overload the midfield.
Two three-man defences should see plenty of emphasis put into breaking out down the wings.
Early foul from Kieffer Moore, the referee may want to keep a lid on his physicality.
Kick-off!
19:47 , Marc Mayo
We’re underway in Cardiff!
Georgia have booked their spot
19:46 , Marc Mayo
Full time in the early play-off final and Georgia have booked their first-ever ticket to the Euros after a 4-2 penalty shootout win!
Wales vs Poland | Countdown to kick-off
19:44 , Marc Mayo
Italy’s Daniele Orsato, a regular in Champions League and World Cup knockouts, takes the whistle today.
Robert Lewandowski and Ben Davies undertake the final pre-match duties.
Time for the national anthems
19:42 , Marc Mayo
‘Poland Is Not Yet Lost’ first up, backed by their corner of vocal away fans holding up red-and-white scarves and the odd flare.
Then it’s time for ‘Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau’.
Here come the teams!
19:41 , Marc Mayo
Some atmosphere in Cardiff, the place is absolutely rocking!
Still no winner in Georgia vs Greece
19:36 , Marc Mayo
They’re going to penalties in Tbilisi!
How Wales got this far
19:30 , Marc Mayo
As second seeds in qualification Group D, Wales found it tough going despite an opening-day draw in Croatia courtesy of a late Nathan Broadhead goal.
Armenia stunned Rob Page’s men in a 4-2 defeat before they lost to Turkey drew the return fixture with the Armenians.
Even though they did the double over Croatia, they fell four points short of an automatic spot with Turkey in fine form.
As a top-ranked side in the last Nations League, they entered the play-offs and smashed Finland 4-1 in Cardiff last week.
Wales cruised past Finland in the Play-Off Semi-Final last Thursday 🔥🏴
Can they produce a similar display against Poland in today's Play-Off Final?
Watch Wales vs Poland live at 7.45pm later tonight on Viaplay Sports 2 📺#EURO2024 | @Cymru pic.twitter.com/osJNuaflA5— Viaplay Sports UK (@ViaplaySportsUK) March 26, 2024
Wales vs Poland | Countdown to kick-off
19:25 , Marc Mayo
We have just 20 minutes to go until this Euro 2024 play-off final begins!
The warm-ups are in full flow on the pitch.
All smiles from the boios 😄#TogetherStronger pic.twitter.com/cVReiRxcqh
— Wales 🏴 (@Cymru) March 26, 2024
Fourth major tournament beyond Ben Davies' wildest dreams
19:19 , Marc Mayo
For younger fans, the idea of Wales at a major tournament may not be that unusual.
But before making Euro 2016, the Dragons were far from a regular fixture on the top table of international football, as Ben Davies has recalled ahead of the game.
"Welsh football was in a pretty sticky place before Euro 2016," said Davies.
"I remember before that campaign we felt that would be our best opportunity to qualify and I think breaking down that barrier [was important] and showing it is possible that if you put just a run of a couple of games together then qualification is there in your hands.
"We have shown we have big players stepping up in big moments over and over and a chance to do it four times is something I probably never imagined happening."
Biggest test yet in Wales' post-Gareth Bale era
19:12 , Marc Mayo
Ever since Gareth Bale retired last year, the question for Wales has been how they would cope without their talisman when it matters most.
On Tuesday, a young Wales side, led by fresh talent like Tottenham’s Brennan Johnson, can write their own history when they play Poland in Cardiff for a place at Euro 2024.
Filling the void left by Bale, who led Wales to three major tournaments and is their greatest-ever player, was never going to be easy.
In their first qualifying campaign since Bale hung up his boots, Wales struggled, and back-to-back defeats by Armenia and Turkey last year looked to have ended their hopes of a third successive Euros. But they recovered to reach the play-offs and thumped Finland 4-1 in last week’s semi-final.
Rob Page's special gift
19:06 , Marc Mayo
Michal Probierz has revealed the unusual present he will deliver to his Wales counterpart before tonight’s game.
“It is golf balls with the Polish logo on and I will give them to him before the match,” he told his pre-match press conference.
The Poland coach discussed taking up the sport with Page at the recent Nations League draw.
The 51-year-old stepped up from managing the U21s to succeed Fernando Santos in September following Poland’s qualification woes.
To extra-time in the early kick-off
18:57 , Marc Mayo
Nothing to separate Georgia and Greece in the Path C play-off final.
After 90 minutes it’s goalless - with just one shot on target between them.
A little bit of a Robert Lewandowski drought?
18:53 , Marc Mayo
Barcelona striker Robert Lewandowski has 82 goals in 147 international caps since making his debut in 2008... but he only has one strike in his last four Poland games.
Coming into this international break, he has managed goals in his last two club matches and a solid haul of 20 for the season.
🫡#EURO2024 pic.twitter.com/OfPqj9WNsa
— UEFA EURO 2024 (@EURO2024) March 26, 2024
How Poland line up
18:47 , Marc Mayo
Poland XI: Szczesny; Bednarek, Dawidowicz, Kiwor; Frankowski, Zielinski, Slisz, Piotrowski, Zalewski; Swiderski, Lewandowski
Subs: Skorupski, Bulka, Walukiewicz, Puchacz, Grosicki, Romanczuk, Buska, D. Szymanski, S. Szymanski, Salamon, Piatek, Bereszynski
Poland unchanged
18:46 , Marc Mayo
Michal Probierz sticks with the same Polish line-up which smashed Estonia in the semi-finals.
Jakub Kiwior of Arsenal is the sole Premier League player included with Brighton’s Jakub Moder not in the squad and Aston Villa’s Matty Cash injured.
Veteran winger Kamil Grosicki, formerly of Hull, is among the substitutes and Roma wide-man Nicola Zalewski - who was born in Italy to Polish parents - could cause problems down Wales’ right flank.
🆕 SKŁAD
W takim zestawieniu rozpoczniemy finał baraży!
___________ #WALPOL🏴🇵🇱 pic.twitter.com/ShjVAbWVcT— Łączy nas piłka (@LaczyNasPilka) March 26, 2024
One change for Wales
18:42 , Marc Mayo
Kieffer Moore gets the nod to start up front for the home team, as David Brooks moves to the substitutes.
Aaron Ramsey and Dan James join a strong bench.
The Wales team bus has just parked up at the ground...
Cymru have arrived 👋 #TogtherStronger pic.twitter.com/hwwdY7LoDo
— Wales 🏴 (@Cymru) March 26, 2024
Wales team is in!
18:34 , Marc Mayo
Wales XI: Ward; Mepham, Rodon, Davies; Roberts, Ampadu, J. James, Williams; Wilson, Moore, Johnson
Subs: Hennessey, King, Fox, Dasilva, Ramsey, Sheehan, Savage, Matondo, D. James, Brooks, Cullen, Broadhead
Click here to read the full blog on The Evening Standard's website