Serbia’s national football team has qualified for the 2024 European Championship finals in a long-distance duel with its neighbors Montenegro. It is a first for Serbia. It is a first for Serbia. Romelu Lukaku scored four times in Belgium’s win.
Coach Dragan Stojkovic’s team managed a 2-2 (1-0) win against Bulgaria on Sunday (11/19/2023) on the last matchday of qualification to secure second place in the table behind Hungary in Group G and take part in the EURO in Germany to secure. This is Serbia’s first participation in the European Championship; they took part in the last two World Cup tournaments in Russia 2018 and Qatar 2022.
“It’s a big day for Serbian football. Serbia is finally at the European Championships,” said Stojkovic, who took part in the 1984 and 2000 finals as a player with Yugoslavia. “I congratulate my boys who fought and believed until the end.”
Bremen’s Milos Veljkovic (16th minute) gave the Serbs the lead, but Georgi Rusew (59th) and Kiril Despodow (69th) turned the game in favor of the Bulgarians. Srdan Babic (82nd) managed to equalize.
Montenegro only third after defeat
The pursuers Montenegro lost 1:3 (1:0) in Hungary and have to settle for third place. Montenegro also led with a goal from Slobodan Rubezic (36th), before ex-Leipzig player Dominik Szoboszlai with a brace (66th/68th) and Adam Nagy (90th + 3) led the already qualified Hungarians to victory.
With a win and Serbia’s defeat at the same time, Montenegro would have secured its ticket to the European Championship.
Portugal with Maximum yield
Former European champions Portugal finished Group J with a maximum of 30 points in ten games. In the 2-0 (1-0) win against Iceland, Bruno Fernandes (37th) and Ricardo Horta (66th) scored for the team around veteran Cristiano Ronaldo. Slovakia had also qualified as second in the table before the 2-1 (0-0) draw in Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Belgium group winners thanks to four goals from Lukaku
Romelu Lukaku led Belgium to the 2024 European Football Championship in Germany with a four-pack against Azerbaijan as group winners in Group F. The 30-year-old attacker scored four times in the first half of the 5-0 (4-0) win in Brussels on Sunday, increasing his goal tally in the national jersey to 83 goals. Only six players have officially scored more international goals.
For Lukaku, it was the first time that he scored four goals in an international match. With 14 goals in eight games, Lukaku also leads the top scorer list in the European Championship qualification.
After winning the draw for next year’s finals, Belgium will definitely be in Pot 1 and will therefore not face Germany. Coach Domenico Tedesco’s much-rejuvenated team finished qualifying Group F undefeated with six wins and two draws ahead of Austria.
Sweden separates from National coach Andersson
In the second game of the group on Sunday, Sweden, which can no longer qualify for the European Championships, won 2-0 (1-0) against Estonia. The goals were scored by Viktor Claesson (22nd) and Leipzig’s Emil Forsberg (55th). Estonia will take part in the playoffs as winners of Nations League Group D.
After the game, the Swedish association announced the separation from national coach Janne Andersson.
Spain wins, draw between Scotland and Norway
Spain won 3-1 (1-1) against Georgia in Group A and thus maintained their lead in the table ahead of the Scots, who had also previously qualified, and who played 3-3 (2-2) against Norway. Barca young star Gavi retired with a knee injury and left the field in tears.
