Spain qualify for Euro 2020 with stop page-time goal

With an equalizer in stoppage time, Spain earned the point it needed against Sweden to qualify for the 2020 European Championship on Tuesday, while Ireland missed its chance to seal a spot in next year’s tournament by losing to Switzerland.

Already qualified Italy routed Liechtenstein 5-0 for a record-equaling ninth straight win. After conceding a late equalizer against Norway on Saturday to miss an opportunity to qualify in advance, Spain salvaged a 1-1 draw in its visit to Sweden with a goal by Rodrigo two minutes into injury time at Friends Arena. “If we don’t win every match people will start saying that we are not playing well, but things don’t always go your way in football,” Rodrigo said. “The important thing is that we have qualified. Now we have time to try to improve.” Coach Robert Moreno dedicated the spot at Euro 2020 to former Spain manager Luis Enrique, who resigned in June to be with his ill daughter.

Sweden remained second in Group F, five points behind Spain and one point in front of third-place Romania, which squandered a chance to move past Sweden after conceding a stoppage-time equalizer in a 11 draw against Norway at home. The Norwegians stayed alive after their second consecutive last-gasp draw. Romania and Sweden will meet in the next round. Marcus Berg scored early in the second half to give Sweden the lead, but Rodrigo’s late goal from close range kept Spain from losing its first qualifying match for either the European Championship or the World Cup since 2014. It also extended Spain’s record streak of scoring at least a goal to 38 consecutive matches.

Spain was without captain Sergio Ramos because of a yellow-card suspension. The central defender on Saturday played his 168th match with the national team, surpassing the record previously set by Iker Casillas. Spain goalkeeper David de Gea had to be substituted in the 60th minute because of a muscle injury.