The Dutch help Croatia secure seeded spot for EURO qualifying draw

Croatia will be seeded for the EURO 2020 qualifying draw (Photo: HNS)

An injury-time equaliser by Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk for the Netherlands against Germany on Monday night in the UEFA Nations League has done Croatia a favour. 

The Dutch had been 2-0 down for much of the game in Gelsenkirchen before first Quincy Promes in the 85th minute and Van Dijk’s sublime volley saw the match end 2-2. 

The result means that the Netherlands top League A Group 1 and advance to the final 4 whilst Germany finish in last spot with 2 points and have been relegated to League B. 

With the best 10 teams out of the 12 teams in League A securing a seeding for the EURO 2020 draw, today’s result means that Croatia is now guaranteed to be seeded. Iceland finished with 0 points, Poland currently has 1 point but play Portugal tomorrow and Germany ended with 2 points meaning Croatia’s 4 points are enough. 

The draw for the EURO 2020 will take place in Dublin on 2 December. All 55 UEFA affiliated teams will be divided into 10 groups. Croatia as a top seed will avoid teams like France, Belgium, England and Spain.

Croatia will be in Pot 1 for the draw

The two top teams in each group will advance to EURO 2020. Qualifiers start in March 2019.