Penalty shoot-out heartbreak for Cymru

Cymru 0-0 Poland

• Poland win 5-4 on penalties
• Cymru heartbreak in first ever penalty shoot-out
• Poland will compete at EURO 2024
• The Red Wall left proud of the effort 

It was the cruelest possible end to a qualification campaign as Cymru missed out on a place at UEFA EURO 2024 with the last kick of a penalty shoot-out. 

The effort from the Cymru team in these play-off matches has been exceptional and their effort was recognised by The Red Wall, as despite missing their last penalty kick they burst into cheer for their heroes. 

This had been an exceptionally tight game with the stats showing barely anything between the teams but it was Cymru who probably had the best chance of the match to break the deadlock when Kieffer Moore headed an effort toward the top right-hand corner of the goal. Somehow, Wojciech Szczęsny pulled off an incredible save to deny Cymru. 

Cymru had never been involved in a penalty shootout during 148 years of existence and their first ever ended in disappointment after Szczęsny saved Dan Jame’s strike from the spot. 

So it will be Poland who will progress and spend the summer in Germany at the expense of Cymru. 

Cymru will dust themselves off and go again. This young team have a story to tell.