Wales 0-0 Poland (4-5 on pens): Wales have Euro 2024 dream ended in shoot-out as Dan James misses decisive kick

Poland will make up Group D with France, Netherlands and Austria, pipping Wales to Euro 2024 qualification thanks to Wojicech Szczesny’s crucial shoot-out save from Daniel James. That secured the visitors a 5-4 win, the penalty competition coming at the end of extra time following a drab 0-0 draw.

Neither side created much in a frantic opening – with two years’ work at stake, both were circumspect. Ben Davies might have done better with a header, but otherwise the goalkeepers were largely spectators.

Wales tried to force the pace in the second half, Kieffer Moore drawing a decent save from Szczesny, but penalties had felt likely even before the game, never mind once it started, both unable to muster any kind of quality going forward. Robert Lewandowski and Jakub Kiwior both missed chances, then in extra time, Jakub Piotrowski was narrowly wide with a rasping curler.

So to penalties, the first nine of which were scored; if James missed, Wales were out. And under pressure few will ever experience, he produced a nervous effort that Szczesny could barely fail to save; Poland are going to Germany.

None of the outfield players did anything of note, so the only candidate is the Poland goalkeeper, who made one smart save in normal time, then the crucial save in the shoot-out.

Wales: Ward 6, Williams 6, Mepham 6, Davies , Rodon 7, Roberts 7, Ampadu 7, Wilson 6, James 6, Moore 6, Johnson 5. Subs: James 5, Brooks 7, Broadhead 6.

Poland: Szczesny 8, Bednarek 6, Dawidowicz 6, Kiwior 6, Frankowski 6, Slisz 6, Zielinski 7, Piotrowski 6, Zalewski , Swiderski 5, Lewandowski 5. Subs: Piatek 6, Salamon 6, Szymanski 6, Romanchuk 6.

17’ - HE CAN YOU KNOW! And Davies and Moore are both up, peeling away ... with the former heading over the top. That’s the best chance of the match so far, which says even less than you think it does.

49’ - WILLIAMS GOES FLAT AND MOORE IS UP! He makes great contact too, sending the ball back whence it came ... only for Szczesny to hurl himself left and claw away a looper from under the bar! That’s a terrific save.

58’ - ZIELINSKI, WHOSE DELIVERY HAS BEEN POOR TONIGHT: Finally finds a decent one and Lewandowski has escaped Davies! But on the stoop, he heads over, and that’s Poland’s best chance of the night - by far. Credit to the defender, though who, after losing his man, got back at him well enough to up the pressure.

65’ - THE CORNER GOES SHORT: And Zielinski swings in a brute, Piotrowski missing ... and Kiwior, seeing it late, shinning it over the bar! I’m not sure he could’ve done much better given the speed of the ball and man between it and him, but equally, he couldn’t have done much worse.

99’ - GOODNESS ME, SOME ACTION! First, Davies gets down the left and crosses low on the slide, but Szczesny does just enough, plunging to palm away from Brooks. Then Poland counter and Lewandowski finds Zalewski who sets back for Piotrowski, and from the edge of the box he burns a curler that flies just wide of the far post. That’s a tremendous effort.

120’ - WE’LL HAVE ONE ADDITIONAL MINUTE: Poland again plough forward. But what’s this?! Mepham, booked earlier on, goes to ground, probably gets a bit of the ball, and I’m not sure I’d book someone for that though I can see why this ref did.

SHOOT-OUT: MISS! POLAND BEAT WALES 5-4 ON PENALTIES! THEY GO TO EURO 2024! This is a weak effort, low and close to the keeper, who doesn't miss the chance to make himself the hero. Poland are going to Germany!