The fifth-worst team in Europe are just one win away from clinching qualification for 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 Nations League rankings.
And yet, despite winning just two of their Euro 2024 qualifiers so far and averaging just one goal per game, Moldova 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 Czechia in Olomouc 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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Moldova’s hopes of beating Czechia to secure a spot at next year’s tournament were handed a boost on Sunday when three of their opponents’ players were booted out of the squad in disgrace for partying late into the night on Saturday, less than 48 hours before the crunch clash.
West Ham’s Vladimir Coufal, along with Jakub Brabec and Jan Kuchta, were found to have ‘violated national team rules in a fundamental way’ and will not play any part in the game.
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.
Perennial bottom-dwellers in the Nations League, The Tricolours finished second in the League D Group 1 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 Islands, 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.