For most European nations, qualifying for the European Championships is not a foregone conclusion.
In fact, qualifying for the tournament is often a once-in-a-lifetime event for both players and fans.
Twelve sides who have failed to qualify for the tournament through the group stage are getting a second chance due to their Nations League performances.
Tonight’s single-leg semi-finals are offering a second bite of the cherry to a variety of teams – from sides who have never qualified for the tournament before to previous winners.
Mail Sport runs through a summary of the fixtures as well as a prediction on who will go through.
Twelve sides are still in contention to qualify for Euro 2024 after missing out in the group stages, including Wales
Georgia vs Luxembourg
Luxembourg travel to Tsibili to face off against Georgia to book their place in a playoff final.
Neither of the two sides have appeared in a major tournament before but winning tonight will take them just one game away.
The Red Lions have enjoyed their most successful qualifying campaign ever, finishing third in Group J, and grabbing impressive victories both home and away against Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Despite home advantage, Georgia go into this game with more to worry about – a fourth placed finish in Group A sees them in worse form than their opposition, and they are without key man Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, who is suspended.
Prediction: Luxembourg to win.
Georgia’s key man Khvicha Kvaratskhelia is suspended for the game against Luxembourg
Greece vs Kazakhstan
Former European champions Greece play host to Kazakhstan in Athens. The winner takes on the victor of Georgia vs Luxembourg to book a place in Group F of the tournament.
Greece finished Group B in a respectable third place, with France and the Netherlands unsurprisingly landing the top two spots.
Kazakhstan, another side without a major tournament appearance, were unlucky to fall to fourth in Group H with 18 points – a tally that would have won other groups.
Both sides go into the game without many selection issues. Greece will be without Norwich City left-back Dimitris Giannoulis – however they can rely on Kostas Tsimikas to slot back into that role. Kazakhstan are without Zenit centre-back Nuraly Alip, who is suspended.
Prediction: Greece to win after extra-time.
Greece face a tough test in Kazakhstan but are favourites after finishing third in their group
Poland vs Estonia
It has been a qualification campaign to forget for Poland thus far – losses to Czechia, Moldova and Albania in the group stage saw them fall to a third-place finish.
However, they have entered strong form under Michal Probierz, who took over in September, and remain undefeated under his stewardship.
Estonia, on the other hand, are the only team in the playoffs to have finished bottom of their group, accumulating one point across their qualifying campaign.
Despite a 1-0 victory for Estonia the last time these two sides met, the result of this tie seems almost a foregone conclusion.
Prediction: Poland to win.
Poland remain undefeated under new boss Michal Probierz and it looks a foregone conclusion against Estonia
Wales vs Finland
Eight years on from their extraordinary run to the semi-finals, Wales now look to make their third consecutive European Championships – for the first time in their history.
A third-placed finish in the group saw them miss out on direct qualification to Turkey and Croatia, however they will come into this game with confidence, having only lost one game at home in their qualification campaign so far.
Finland finished third in a competitive Group H, where any of the top four sides could have triumphed over the group.
They will provide a stern test for the Welsh, boasting wins over Slovenia, Kazakhstan and Northern Ireland in the group stage.
This game could also see Minnesota United’s Teemu Pukki grab his 40th international goal of his career.
Prediction: Wales to win.
Striker Teemu Pukki is aiming for his 40th international goal as Finland hope to upset Wales
Bosnia and Herzegovina vs Ukraine
Bosnia and Herzegovina host Ukraine on the path for a spot in Group E of the competition – alongside Belgium, Slovakia and Romania.
Bosnia and Herzegovina are looking to make their first ever European Championships, however, they have endured a poor run of form in the group stage of the qualifiers. Losing seven games and finishing behind Iceland and Luxembourg, they will be hoping they can turn it around for the playoffs.
Ukraine had a much stronger showing in the group stages, particularly since they were forced to play all of their ‘home’ games in Poland.
Finishing level on points with Italy, as well as holding both England and the Italians to draws in the group stage, means the Ukrainians should come into this bout brimming with confidence.
Prediction: Ukraine to win.
Ukraine were devastated to miss out in the groups but face a Bosnia and Hezergovina side in poor form
Israel vs Iceland
Israel and Iceland are set to face off in a neutral venue due to the conflict in the Middle East.
Israel come into the game after a third-placed finish in Group I, missing out on direct qualification by just two points.
A win here would send Iceland on their way to the second Euros in their history after their memorable campaign in 2016, where they knocked England out of the competition in the last 16.
Iceland finished fourth in Group J, only qualifying for the playoffs through goal difference in their Nations League campaign.
Israel will meet Iceland at a neutral venue and missed out on direct qualification by two points
Israel will be without Manor Solomon, who is still suffering from a knee injury.
Iceland have no notable absentees, other than Gylfi Sigurdsson who expressed his upset at not being selected for the squad since returning to Icelandic club – Valur, despite remaining his nation’s all-time top goalscorer.
Prediction: Israel to win after extra-time