Tight win sends Slovakia to Euro 2016; Ukraine faces play-off after loss to Spain

Slovakia's 4-2 victory in Luxembourg on Monday confirmed a place at Euro 2016 for the country's first appearance in the finals since 1980, when they were part of Czechoslovakia.

With a win, Ukraine could have put themselves in a strong position for the best third-placed team in qualifying and therefore an automatic spot in next year's tournament. A 1-0 home loss to Spain, however, consigned them to a tricky two-legged playoff next month.

When Marek Hamsik netted Slovakia's second against Macedonia in June, it was in the side's sixth consecutive win of the campaign and had Jan Kozak's side sitting three points clear of Group C.

Almost four months later, the same man ended a horrendous dry spell of 345 minutes without a goal for his country that left Slovakia's Euro 2016 qualification hopes at risk.

When it rains it pours. Hamsik's tally was promptly added to by Adam Nemec and Robert Mak, and the Slovakians were up 3-0 at Stade Josy Barthel after half an hour.

Two second-half efforts from Luxembourg made the visitor sweat, but Slovakia did just enough to book its ticket to France next year, getting a late goal to calm any lingering nerves.

Back at the Olimpiyskiy Stadium, despite the best efforts of Ukraine, heroics from Manchester United shot-stopper David De Gea saw them fall to Spain courtesy of Mario Gaspar's 21st-minute header on his debut.

Ukraine will await Sunday's draw to learn its opponent in November's playoffs for Euro 2016 qualification, while the Slovakia team is set to get a hero's welcome when it lands back on home soil.