EURO 2024 qualification in the balance following Armenia draw

Armenia 1-1 Cymru

• Draw no good for either team’s qualification hopes
• Advantage back with Croatia should they beat Latvia
• Chris Mepham to miss Türkiye match

There was huge disappointment after the full-time whistle in Yerevan as the 1-1 draw with Armenia takes qualification for EURO 2024 out of Cymru’s hands giving advantage back to Croatia. 

Cymru got off to a terrible start as they succumbed to early Armenia pressure and when the defence failed to close Lucas Zelarayán down from a cleared corner kick, he was given space to fire low into the net to give his team the lead. 

Rob Page’s team did manage to settle after this setback but were struggling to generate any clear cut chances. David Brooks, Neco Williams, Kieffer Moore and Wilson all had efforts but nothing really troubled Ognjen Chancharevich too much in the Armenia goals. 

Nevertheless, Cymru were deserving of their equaliser before the half-time interval. A long throw from Connor Roberts towards the near post saw Joe Rodon challenge Nair Tiknizyan for the ball. Under Rodon’s pressure, Tiknizyan headed the ball into his own net. 

It seemed to be the perfect time to score with Cymru expected to apply the pressure in the second half. However, with both teams making substitutions and changing their formations to go more attacking, the game opened up but it was Armenia who had the best chances to win the game. 

One of those chances saw Vahan Bichakhchyan strike the underside of the crossbar from the edge of the box. Luckily for Cymru, the ball bounced back the right side of the goal line and the defence were able to clear. 

In added time Danny Ward was forced into producing a fine save to deny Edgar Sevikyan after a Cymru attack broke down. The same player could have won it with nearly the last kick of the match as the ball broke for him in the box but he scuffed his effort wide. 

The result means that automatic qualification for EURO 2024, whilst not an impossibility, is now unlikely for Cymru should Croatia beat Latvia in their match on Saturday evening (5pm).

If Croatia were to lose or draw with Latvia, a win for Cymru against Türkiye on Tuesday (21 November) would see them take second spot. Rob Page will be without Chris Mepham for that match following his booking against Armenia.