Serbia locked up its spot at Euro 2024 after drawing 2-2 with Bulgaria in their final European Championship qualifier on Sunday.
The already-qualified Hungary also beat Montenegro 3-1, led by midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai’s brace.
Serbia needed a draw or for Montenegro to not beat Hungary to advance to next year’s tournament in Germany.
Serbia will play at EURO 2024!Home draw against Bulgaria was enough for Serbia to qualify to EURO for the first time since 2000.
Serbia will probably be placed in Pot 4.
Due to this, Ukraine secured spot in the Play-offs, so they will enter them if they don’t defeat Italy. pic.twitter.com/6XX9NcudKh
— Football Rankings (@FootRankings) November 19, 2023
Follow all the action from the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 including the World Cup schedule, World Cup 2023 results, and ICC Cricket World Cup points table. Players are vying to top the World Cup 2023 Most Runs and World Cup 2023 Most Wickets charts.
Centre-back Milos Veljkovic put Serbia ahead in the 17th minute before substitute Georgi Rusev levelled for Bulgaria in the 59th.
Ten minutes later Kiril Despodov put the visitors ahead but Srdjan Babic equalised eight minutes from time to ensure Serbia would become the 17th team to qualify for Euro 2024.
Montenegro needed Serbia to lose to have any hope of taking their place in Germany but also needed to win against the Hungarians who have eased impressively through qualifying.
Slobodan Rubezic put Montenegro ahead after 36 minutes but Hungary hit back in the second half with two goals in three minutes from Dominik Szoboszlai before Zsolt Nagy rounded off the win in added time.
Hungary finished Group G with 18 points. Serbia was second with 14, and Montenegro third with 11.
Another 90 minutes for Ilia Gruev today, as he helped Bulgaria to a 2-2 draw against Serbia in their latest Euro 2024 qualifier pic.twitter.com/Sadpl5pdF7— Leeds United (@LUFC) November 19, 2023
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The Serbs finish second in Group G behind Hungary who snuffed out any hopes Montenegro had of progressing by beating them 3-1 in Budapest.
Hungary secured its place on Thursday when it won at Bulgaria. The match was marred by violence when local fans clashed with police on the streets of Sofia during a protest over the management of the national soccer union.
Only the top two finishers from each of the 10 groups advance. Another three spots will be determined in a playoff linked to performances in the Nations League. Host Germany automatically qualifies.
(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed - Associated Press)