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UPDATE: Poland drawn to play Czech Republic, Albania in Euro 2024 soccer qualifiers

09.10.2022 15:00
Poland have been drawn to play the Czech Republic, Albania, the Faroe Islands and Moldova in qualifiers for the Euro 2024 football championships in Germany.
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  • Poland drawn to play Czech Republic, Albania in Euro 2024 soccer qualifiers
Poland will play the Czech Republic, Albania, the Faroe Islands and Moldova in qualifiers for the Euro 2024 football championships in Germany, following a draw in Frankfurt on Sunday.
Poland will play the Czech Republic, Albania, the Faroe Islands and Moldova in qualifiers for the Euro 2024 football championships in Germany, following a draw in Frankfurt on Sunday.Photo: EPA/SASCHA STEINBACH

Polish football officials have voiced satisfaction with the draw, which European football's governing body UEFA held in Frankfurt on Sunday.

Cezary Kulesza, head of the Polish Football Association (PZPN), said in a tweet that the Polish team had "a very good draw" and "will be the favorite" to win its Euro 2024 qualifying group E.

"Finishing in first place and advancing past the group stage is our goal," he wrote.

"We respect our opponents, but all these teams are within our reach, and I hope we will prove it soon," he added.

Poland are ranked No. 26 worldwide by world football's governing body FIFA. Meanwhile, the Czech Republic are in 35th place; Albania are ranked 66th, the Faroe Islands are 123rd; and Moldova are at No. 174 in the FIFA table.

Manager Czesław Michniewicz said after the draw: "I think our qualifying group is attractive and our opponents are within our reach. We managed to avoid being drawn into a more difficult group. Two teams will qualify directly for the tournament and I think Poland will be one of them."

Fifty-three teams were drawn into a total of 10 qualifying groups, seven groups of five teams and three six-team groups.

The Polish team was among the top seeds for the draw in Frankfurt on Sunday despite several disappointing performances this year.

Qualifiers will be played between March and November next year, with the top two teams from each group qualifying directly for the championships.

The Euro 2024 tournament will be held from June 14 to July 14, 2024 in 10 cities in Germany, with the final played at Berlin's Olympiastadion.

Poland failed to get past the group stage at the postponed Euro 2020 tournament, where they suffered a defeat to Slovakia before drawing with Spain and losing the decisive game against Sweden.

The Polish team made it through to the quarterfinals of the Euro 2016 championships in France, losing to Portugal on penalties.

EURO 2024 qualifying groups

Group A: Spain, Scotland, Norway, Georgia, Cyprus

Group B: Netherlands, France, Republic of Ireland, Greece, Gibraltar

Group C: Italy, England, Ukraine, North Macedonia, Malta

Group D: Croatia, Wales, Armenia, Turkey, Latvia

Group E: Poland, Czech Republic, Albania, Faroe Islands, Moldova

Group F: Belgium, Austria, Sweden, Azerbaijan, Estonia

Group G: Hungary, Serbia, Montenegro, Bulgaria, Lithuania

Group H: Denmark, Finland, Slovenia, Kazakhstan, Northern Ireland, San Marino

Group I: Switzerland, Israel, Romania, Kosovo, Belarus, Andorra

Group J: Portugal, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iceland, Luxembourg, Slovakia, Liechtenstein

Russia has been banned from competing in Euro 2024 over its invasion of Ukraine.

Poland Poland were among the top seeds for the draw in Frankfurt on Sunday despite several disappointing performances this year. EPA/SASCHA STEINBACH

Poland in late March secured a berth in this year's World Cup finals in Qatar after defeating Sweden 2-0 in a playoff at home.

The Poles have been drawn to play Argentina, Mexico and Saudi Arabia in the group stage of the global tournament, which will be held in Qatar from November 20 to December 18.

Before heading for the World Cup, Poland, captained by star striker Robert Lewandowski, are scheduled to play a friendly against Chile at the National Stadium in Warsaw on November 16.

(gs/di)

Source: TVP, PAP, uefa.com