Sweden forward and team captain Zlatan Ibrahimovic (right) celebrates with teammates after they qualified for Euro 2016 following Tuesday's second leg play-off match against Denmark in Copenhagen. (AFP)
DPA/Berlin
Twenty-four teams can now look forward to next month’s draw for Euro 2016 after
Sweden and Ukraine booked the last two berths for the tournament in France.
European governing body UEFA has confirmed the four seeding pots for the December 12 draw which are based
on UEFA national team coefficient rankings.
Despite the joy of the four play-off winners, with Ireland and Hungary also earlier securing their tickets, anticipation ahead of the June 10-July 11
has now been tempered by major security concerns following the Paris terror attacks.
A million tickets went on sale for the tournament in a first sales phase in June and July, with the next two-month sales window opening in December for supporters of the qualified teams.
It now remains to be seen how the terror attacks affect the coming sales phase but UEFA confirmed yesterday that the tournament would remain in France.
“For over three years now, (the tournament organizing committee) Euro 2016 SAS has been working closely with the relevant authorities to develop the most appropriate mechanisms in order to guarantee there is a safe and secure tournament and we are confident that the necessary measures will be taken to ensure that is the case for all involved.
“The Euro final draw will go ahead as scheduled on 12 December at the Palais des Congres in Paris and the final tournament will be played in France from 10 June to 10 July 2016.”
The last play-offs saw Sweden, led by 34-year-old captain Zlatan Ibrahimovic, lead his country to a fifth Euro in a row after a 2-2 draw in Denmark for a 4-3 aggregate win. Denmark coach Morten Olsen promptly resigned after 15 years in charge of the national team.
“It’s going to be magic, big magic,” Paris Saint-Germain striker Ibrahimovic said.
“It means everything. I play in France and I am coming with my national team to play the European Championship.
“It is probably going to be my last tournament with the national team. For an older player, it feels quite good,” the Swede added.
Ukraine have, meanwhile, reached a Euro finals for the first time after their 1-1 draw in Slovenia gave them what was also a first play-off victory on a 3-1 aggregate.
It avenged a defeat by Slovenia at the same stage of Euro 2000 and made up for four play-off failures in World Cup qualifying stages.
“In the dressing room there really was a lot of joy, a lot of emotion,” coach Mykhailo Fomenko said. “Those last few minutes were unbelievably tense. It was difficult, but I am convinced that we deserved our ticket for the Euro.
“Now we must start afresh. A lot of work lies ahead to prepare properly for France 2016.”
In the draw, hosts France are allocated a place in Group A, while holders Spain, world champions Germany, England, Belgium and Portugal are seeded in Pot 1 to be drawn into the other five groups. Albania, Iceland, Northern Ireland and Wales, who will all be making their Euro debuts, go into Pot 4 along with Ireland and Turkey.
Pot 2 features Italy, Russia, Switzerland, Austria, Croatia and Ukraine, while in Pot 3 are Czech Republic, Sweden, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Hungary.
