Newcomers Kosovo secure Euro 2020 play-off spot

SUCCESS FOR SWEDEN, SERBIA AND SCOTLAND AS PORTUGAL DRAW

Two years after being recognised by Uefa, Kosovo have given themselves a chance to make it to the 2020 European Championship.

The small Balkan republic routed Azerbaijan 4-0 in Pristina on Tuesday to cap an impressive campaign in the inaugural Uefa Nations League and secure at least a play-off spot in qualifying for Euro 2020.

The triumph comes only two months after Kosovo defeated the Faeroe Islands 2-0 for their first competitive win since being admitted to Uefa and Fifa events in 2016.

After winning two other matches in the lower-tiered League D, Kosovo entered the final round in Group 3 needing at least a draw to finish in first place and guarantee the play-off berth.

Arber Zeneli scored a hattrick and Amir Rrahmani added another goal to keep Kosovo unbeaten and at the top of the group. They finished with 14 points from six matches, five points in front of second-place Azerbaijan.

Playing in the play-offs could give Kosovo a shortcut to Euro 2020 as they are unlikely to qualify directly from their group.

Portugal draw

In the top-tier League A, Final Four hosts Portugal ended the group stage with a 1-1 home draw against relegated Poland, while Sweden gained promotion from League B by defeating visiting Russia 2-0. Scotland moved up from League C by coming from behind to defeat Israel at home, as did Serbia after a 4-1 win over relegated Lithuania.

All group winners in the four leagues are guaranteed a place in the play-offs for Euro 2020. England, Switzerland and the Netherlands will join Portugal in the Final Four in June.

Andre Silva gave Portugal the lead in the first half but Arkadiusz Milik equalised for Poland by converting a 66th-minute penalty.

Portugal, who played all their matches without Cristiano Ronaldo, had already secured their Final Four berth with a draw at Italy last week.

“We are candidates to win the tournament for sure, but maybe not favourites,” Portugal goalkeeper Beto said. “We’ll have the luxury of having our fans with us.”

Russia missed a chance to gain promotion to League A despite entering the match against Sweden with a three-point lead in their group.

The hosts earned the comfortable win with a goal by Victor Lindelof in the first half and another by Marcus Berg in the second.

“It’s great that we were able to showcase how we can play here at home,” Sweden coach Janne Andersson said. “I am immensely pleased with what we have achieved in this competition.”

Scotland needed a win at home and got it despite conceding early in the match against Israel in Glasgow, rallying with three unanswered goals by forward James Forrest before the visitors pulled closer again. “A great night,” Forrest said. Iceland, Poland, Germany and Croatia were demoted to League B. Ukraine, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Denmark will join Sweden in League A. The final positions in the overall Nations League ranking determines the teams’ seeding in the qualifying draw for Euro 2020.

We are candidates to win the tournament for sure, but maybe not favourites ... We’ll have the luxury of having our fans with us.” Beto » Portugal goalkeeper