How Europe’s FIFTH-WORST team – ranked 157th in the world – can qualify for Euro 2024 tonight… with just one win needed to make it to Germany despite only two victories and a goal a game so far

• Moldova are fourth in Group E but can still qualify for Euro 2024 
• They need to beat Czech Republic away on Monday night 
• Southgate’s loyalty to his players is an issue and a weakness – It’s All Kicking Off 

The fifth-worst team in Europe are just one win away from clinching qualification to Euro 2024.

Ranked as the 157th side in the world by FIFA, the team is only ahead of Malta, Andorra, San Marino and Liechtenstein in UEFA’s rankings.

And yet, despite winning just two of its Euro 2024 qualifiers so far and averaging just one goal per game it could qualify for its first major tournament with a win on Monday night.

The nation in question is Moldova, which currently sit fourth in Group E with 10 points and face Czech Republic in Olomuc in their final qualifier.

The Czechs are currently second, two points clear of Moldova, and will join Albania in Germany next summer as long as they avoid defeat on Monday night.

Moldova could qualify for Euro 2024 if they beat the Czech Republic on Monday night

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Qualifying for Euro 2024 would be an astonishing achievement for Moldova, who are currently ranked as the 51st team in Europe and only made their professional debut in 1991 shortly before the break-up of the Soviet Union.

GROUP E TABLE AND FIXTURES

• Albania – P7, 14 points
• Czech Republic – P7, 12 points 
• Poland – P8, 11 points
• Moldova – P7, 10 points
• Faroe Islands -P7, 1 point

MONDAY’S FIXTURES 

• Albania vs Faroe Islands
• Czech Republic vs Moldova 

Perennial bottom-dwellers in the Nations League, The Tricolours finished second in the League D Group 1 up with 13 points in six games, but missed out on promotion to League C to Latvia on goal difference.

Serghei Cleșcenco’s men looked destined for more disappointment after picking up just two points from their first three Euro 2024 qualifiers and scoring just once in the process.

Ion Nicolaescu’s late penalty earned them a point against the Faroe Island, before a 0-0 draw with Czech Republic was followed by a 2-0 defeat in Albania.

Nicolaescu was again on target in June, as Moldova stunned Poland 3-2 in Chisinau in a game that accounted for almost half of the seven goals they have scored in Group E so far. 

Trailing to first half goals from Arkadiusz Milik and Robert Lewandowski, Moldova drew level 10 minutes from time courtesy of a brace from Nicolaescu, before Vladyslav Babohlo sealed a famous comeback with 85 minutes played. 

Vadim Rata scored the only goal of the game as Moldova beat the Faroe Islands 1-0 away, with Nicolaescu scoring his fourth of the campaign in a 1-1 draw away in Poland last month.

On Friday, an 87th minute goal from Babohlo earned Moldova a 1-1 draw against Albania and a potentially crucial point in their quest to qualify for their first major tournament.

Ion Nicolaescu has scored four goals in the qualifying campaign, three of which came in two games against Poland 

Serghei Clescenco’s men are fourth in Group E with 10 points after seven games

Moldova have their destiny firmly in their hands, but these are very much uncharted waters for the Tricolours.

With the exception of the 2008 Euro qualifiers, Moldova have finished last or second-bottom in their group in all qualifying campaigns they have entered so far, dating all the way back to the Euro 1996 qualifiers.

Elsewhere, Albania will win Group E if they beat the Faroe Islands at home, while third-placed Poland are guaranteed a play-off spot after racking up 11 points in their eight games.

UEFA’s convoluted qualifying process means the Czech Republic will miss out on a playoff spot if they lose to Moldova, despite the fact they would still finish one point above Poland. 

IT’S ALL KICKING OFF! 

It’s All Kicking Off is an exciting new podcast from Mail Sport that promises a different take on Premier League football.

It is available on MailOnline, Mail+, YouTube, Apple Music and Spotify.

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