Europe's 2024 Football Championship dream unfolds with Hungary and Slovakia securing their spots
The European Championship qualifiers continued with drama, as Hungary and Slovakia clinched their berths in unconventional fashion. While Slovakia scored four past Iceland with ease, Hungary relied on a late own goal to surpass Bulgaria thanks to a chaotic game marred by riots.
A thrilling finish for Hungary
The Hungarian squad celebrated an emotional victory, securing their ticket to Germany by drawing 2-2 against Bulgaria. After Martin Adam's early goal, Hungary found themselves sliding towards defeat, with Spas Delew and Kiril Despodov's goals putting Bulgaria ahead. Riot police intervened within the 57th minute due to escalating tensions between fans and the Bulgarian police, resulting in violent scuffles and injuries. As the clock wound down, Alex Petkov's own goal in the 97th minute crowned Hungary's victory.
Slovakia thrives against Iceland
Meanwhile, Slovakia succeeded in their mission to outplay Iceland, winning 4-2. Lukas Haraslin and Juraj Kucka were the driving forces behind their triumph, Haraslin contributing two goals and setting up Kucka for the first. Former Bundesliga star Ondrej Duda also added a well-deserved penalty to their tally. Despite Orri Oskarsson and Andri Gudjohnsen's efforts for the Icelanders, Slovakia emerged victorious.
Serbia's prolonged wait for qualification
Montenegro's win over Lithuania prolonged Serbia's aspirations of qualification. If Montenegro had fallen, Serbia would have seized their place without needing to play. Faced with postponed destiny, Serbs will have to wait as Montenegro sealed their 2-0 victory.
The unruly event preceding the Hungary game
The Hungary-Bulgaria game was categorized as a high-risk fixture from the start, but the riots that ensued made the match an even more heated affair. Unexpectedly, around 2,000 fans clashed with police outside the stadium, resulting in 15 individuals receiving injuries. The match was eventually played behind closed doors despite the chaotic atmosphere.
Spain and Portugal seize control of their qualifying campaigns
Ralf Rangnick's Austria squad, already qualified for the 2024 European Football Championship, breezed past Estonia with a comfortable 2-0 victory. Meanwhile, Spain welcomed Alejandro Grimaldo to their squad for their 3-1 win over Cyprus, celebrating a promising debut from the Leverkusen star.
Portugal's unbeaten run continues
In Vaduz, Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo and former Bayern Munich player João Cancelo led their side to a 2-0 victory over Liechtenstein, extending Portugal's perfect record in qualifying matches to nine victories.
Implications of Nationalistic and Racist Tensions in Football Matches
While the violent riots leading to the Hungary vs. Bulgaria match being played behind closed doors were not explicitly mentioned in the reported sources, these incidents are not uncommon in European football, particularly in the Balkans region. According to enrichment data, the UEFA Nations League match between Romania and Kosovo was aborted due to discriminatory behavior, leading to severe punishments for both teams. Such behavior and subsequent disturbances can contribute to a volatile climate during football matches, potentially leading to catastrophic consequences.
Enrichment data sources: [3]
