Wales handed Finland tie in Euro 2024 playoffs

Wales will play host to Finland in their Euro 2024 playoff semi-final in March.

Earlier in the week, the Dragons had been hoping to secure an automatic place at next summer's European Championship with victory over Turkey.

However, as well as only drawing 1-1 at the Cardiff City Stadium, the result ultimately proved irrelevant as Croatia secured second place in Group D with a 1-0 triumph over Armenia.

As a result of their performances in the UEFA Nations League, Robert Page's side are able to drop down into the playoffs and need to win two games in order feature in Germany.

There was the possibility of facing one of three teams in a one-legged home tie, with that fixture to be played on March 21.

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Instead of facing Ukraine or Iceland, Wales will go up against a Finland side that finished in third spot in Group H behind Denmark and Slovenia.

During the most recent international break, Finland recorded a 4-0 victory over Northern Ireland before beating minnows San Marino by a 2-1 scoreline.

Wales are no strangers to recent encounters with Finland, beating them twice in the UEFA Nations League in 2020 before a goalless draw was played out in a friendly in September 2021.

Whoever prevails from the meeting with Wales and Finland will square off against Poland or Estonia, with the venue for that showdown yet to be decided.

In Path B, Israel will go head to head with Iceland, while Bosnia and Herzegovina will play Ukraine, the winners then meeting in the final.

Path C sees Georgia play Luxembourg - who are bidding to qualify for their first-ever finals - and Greece host Kazakhstan.