Defeating Azerbaijan, the Austrian team advances straight to the EURO 2024 finals

Austria secured a crucial victory against Azerbaijan to join Belgium, France, Portugal, Spain, Türkiye, and Scotland in Germany for the EURO 2024 finals.

Thắng Azerbaijan, đội tuyển Áo thẳng tiến tới vòng chung kết EURO 2024

Austria became the next team to qualify for the EURO 2024 finals in Germany. (Source: Reuters)

Seven teams have qualified.

Austria secured direct qualification after a hard-fought 1-0 victory away against Azerbaijan in Group F.

Marcel Sabitzer played the hero for the Austrian team when he successfully converted a penalty kick at the beginning of the second half.

This victory gives coach Ralf Rangnick's team 16 points after 7 matches, 10 points more than Sweden.

The Swedish team has three matches left, but the maximum number of points they can earn is nine, so they have to accept watching their rivals advance to Germany for the EURO 2024 finals.

This is the fourth time and the third consecutive time the Austrian national team has participated in a European Championship finals. Previously, they participated in EURO 2008, 2016, and 2020.

Earlier in this group, the Belgian team had already secured their place in Europe's biggest football tournament after defeating Austria.

Besides the two teams in Group F, the EURO finals have also confirmed five other teams that will participate in Germany: France, Portugal, Spain, Scotland, and Türkiye.

France and Portugal qualified for the finals with a perfect record after their qualifying matches.

Meanwhile, other teams such as Spain, Scotland, and Turkey also showed incredibly impressive form, and their qualification for the next round was not entirely unexpected.

The Netherlands team has a good chance of qualifying for Germany.

After their 1-2 defeat against France, the Netherlands quickly bounced back with a narrow 1-0 victory over Greece.

Virgil Van Dijk became the hero when he scored a crucial penalty in the 90+3 minute, securing a breathtaking victory for the "Orange Tornado".

This victory gives the Netherlands the same 12 points as Greece, but they are ranked above their rivals due to a better head-to-head record and having played one less match.

This also means that the Netherlands have a better chance against Greece in the race for the remaining spot in Group B to qualify for the EURO 2024 finals.

The Netherlands only have to face two weaker opponents, Ireland and Gibraltar, ahead of them, while Greece faces the challenge of France.

Thanks to their superior head-to-head record, coach Ronald Koeman's team only needs to win one of their remaining two matches to officially secure their ticket to Germany next year.

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