Page 63 - Soccer360 - Issue 103

The compacted Euro 2024 qualifying schedule means the majority of teams looking to book a place in Germany next summer will learn their fate before the end of 2023. This is all part of the
knock-on impact of holding the 2022 World Cup within the domestic European calendar, meaning UEFA have squeezed all qualifying matches into
a reduced format with the 20 automatic qualifier spots set to be all wrapped up by late November. Should they fail to progress via the normal route of finishing in the top two places in their respective qualifying groups, the only remaining option
for sides looking to keep themselves on course will be the complex means of a UEFA Nations League backdoor alternative to the play-offs, with Ronald Koeman’s Netherlands potentially finding themselves at the mercy of UEFA’s
play-off calculator.
Louis van Gaal’s strong performance in the most recent Nations League gave the Dutch a Plan B
for Euro 2024 qualification, if they miss out via
the regular route. That might turn out to be highly significant, as so far Koeman’s second coming with La Oranje has been fraught with issues.
After returning for a second spell in the top job
in Dutch football having previously left the role in 2020 to take over as coach of Barcelona, Koeman has looked to change key components of van Gaal’s back-to-basics approach, but with poor results. His team were thoroughly outplayed in
their Euro 2024 Group B qualifying opener against France in Paris with a rampant Kylian Mbappe scoring twice on his debut night as Les Bleus captain in Paris.
It was a very rude awakening, and somewhat concerning for a side that had been a penalty shootout away from a World Cup semi-final just months earlier. The expected 3-0 win over minnows Gibraltar that followed didn’t really serve to make up for that performance as Koeman then entered a three-month gap to assess his options before the challenge of the 2023 Nations League finals.
One of the main changes from the van Gaal era, which was perhaps not always pretty to watch
but achieved very good results in competitive
EURO 2024
DATES TO KNOW
GROUP STAGE
June 14 - June 26
REST DAYS
June 27 - 28
ROUND OF 16
June 29 - July 2
REST DAYS
July 3 - 4
QUARTER FINALS July 5 - 6
REST DAYS
July 7 - 8
SEMI FINALS
July 9 - 10
REST DAYS
July 11 - 13
FINALS
July 14
SOCCER360 MAGAZINE 63
Ronald Koeman’s tactical changes have so far failed to get the best out of stars such as Cody Gakpo
THE STATE OF PLAY
AHEAD OF THE UPCOMING EURO 2024 QUALIFIERS, FEARGAL BRENNAN LOOKS AT THE CURRENT GROUP STANDINGS AND MAIN TALKING POINTS
Portugal´s Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates a goal during the UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying soccer match between Iceland and Portugal,
Ronald Koeman’s Netherlands are struggling to get themselves into gear
in 2023, but they are not the only major European nation to suffer from a slight qualification stumble, since the start of the campaign.
Scotland’s brilliant four wins from four has left Spain trailing behind them in Group A, with Italy also in a somewhat tricky spot in Group C. The Azzurri have also had to contend with the resignation of coach Roberto Mancini as they look to defend their European title in 2024, on the back of missing out on a place at the 2022 World Cup.
The teams who competed in the Nations League do still have games in hand to try and boost their status, but there have been some impressive early showings from unfancied sides in qualification. Scotland is the name that immediately jumps out, but from Groups A to J, there are teams ready to take their shot at a European Championship place.
Albania could be one to watch in Group E, with favourites Poland struggling to find form, and the group draw has been kind in other areas too. Groups H and I are lacking a real superpower and Kazakhstan and Romania find themselves in a strong position if they can hold their nerve, with the former winning three from four qualifiers in 2023 and the latter unbeaten since the start of the calendar year.
Portugal will be confident of easing away to qualification from Group J, but the second spot could be an eye-catching race, with expected challengers Iceland and Bosnia and Herzegovina out of form in 2023, while ever- improving Luxembourg are putting up an unexpected challenge. Meanwhile, an ailing Sweden side is facing the prospect of missing out on the European Championship finals for the first time since 1996.
If the bigger names do fail to reach Germany 2024 via a direct path, the competitiveness of the playoffs will step up, and it could mean former title winners in direct competition to avoid dropping out.