It’s a FARCE that relegated Wales could get a back-door route to Euro 2024 after a limp Nations League campaign, argue the It’s All Kicking Off co-hosts… as Rob Page’s men prepare for crucial Poland clash

Chris Sutton and Ian Ladyman have cast doubt on the European Championship play-offs as Wales face Poland on Tuesday evening, on the Mail Sport podcast It all starts.

Rob Page’s side failed to get past Croatia to take second place in their European Championship qualifying group. They finished third after ending their campaign with unsatisfactory draws against Armenia and Turkey.

But after a 4-1 defeat to Finland in last week’s play-off semi-final, the Dragons are dreaming of a place in this summer’s tournament – if they can get past Poland in Cardiff.

However, their route to a possible spot at Euro 2024 puts the entire qualification process into question in the minds of the co-hosts, due to their reliance on Nations League performances – despite Wales moving from Pool A to Pool B at the end of the match demoted. last campaign.

As Ladyman looked forward to the prospect of Wales potentially traveling to Germany in June and wished them ‘well’, he wondered whether they deserved the ‘reward’ of a play-off sport.

It’s All Kicking Off presenters Ian Ladyman (left) and Chris Sutton both questioned their route

Dragons won a qualification spot thanks to their performances in the Nations League, which were patchy

“Wales finished third in their qualifying group, behind Croatia and Turkey, but were almost always guaranteed a qualifying spot due to their performances in the Nations League,” Ladyman explained.

‘I looked this up, their performances in the Nations League included five defeats and one draw, and they were relegated from Pool A to Pool B.

“How do they compete with their performance in the Nations League, if that is their performance in the Nations League?

‘That’s because most of the teams above them in the Nations League standings qualified for the European Championship in the traditional way and finished in the top two of their groups. So because they all participate in the European Championship as normal, Wales gets a play-off spot!

‘It’s not Wales’ fault, but what are the benefits? We should be talking about a European Championship football tournament for the elite, just as the World Cup should be a football tournament for the elite. That’s not elite.

“What that is is essentially expanding the tournament from 16 to 24 and getting as many teams as possible into the summer tournament. This will be an unpopular opinion, but Wales does not deserve to be in it.”

Sutton agreed with the co-host, emphasizing that the decision would come down to “money.”

“But I think it’s a little callous when they seem to be getting away with it,” Sutton added. “It’s a bit of a wild card, but good luck to them!”

“Here’s another example – and this is stunning – Estonia finished bottom of Group F, they got one point,” Ladyman continued, illustrating the perceived shortcomings in the qualifying process.

‘They came into the play-offs above the two teams that finished above them in the qualifying group (Sweden and Azerbaijan), because of their performances in the Nations League.

‘In Group J, five of the six teams automatically qualified or progressed to the play-offs, because of their performances in the Nations League – that’s nonsense!

‘What’s the point of having qualifying groups if you don’t use them to determine who gets into the play-offs?

Estonia secured a play-off spot despite finishing bottom of the group – and were beaten 5-1 by Poland last week

Liechtenstein (Philipp Ospelt pictured left) is the only team from Group J not to qualify or win a play-off spot

“What concerns me about that, and there are two schools of thought here; When expanding tournaments, some people will say it’s great for the smaller countries to go to the tournament; it gives them the opportunity to play and learn.

But Ladyman was quick to share the other side of the coin, adding: “What I’m saying is that it gives them the temptation to get comfortable.

“If they know they’re in, what encourages them to improve their coaching infrastructure, improve their academies, improve their national competitions when they already know they’re going to get a huge head start getting into the competition? the summer tournaments, and making money with TV rights and all the rest.

“Where’s the encouragement to get better if they always have a chance?”