Two years after being recognized by UEFA, Kosovo has given itself a chance to make it to the 2020 European Championship.
The small Balkan republic routed Azerbaijan 4-0 in Pristina on Tuesday to cap an impressive campaign in the inaugural UEFA Nations League and secure at least a playoff spot in qualifying for Euro 2020.
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Poland's Arkadiusz Milik, 2nd left, celebrates after scoring his side's first goal during the UEFA Nations League soccer match between Portugal and Poland at the D. Afonso Henriques stadium in Guimaraes, Portugal, Tuesday, Nov. 20, 2018. (AP PhotoManuel Araujo)
Scotland's Steven Fletcher, left, and Israel's Taleb Twatha challenge for the ball during the UEFA Nations League soccer match between Scotland and Israel at Hampden Park, in Glasgow, Scotland, Tuesday, Nov. 20, 2018. (AP PhotoScott Heppell)
Scotland's David Bates, atop, and Israel's Eli Dasa challenge for the ball during the UEFA Nations League soccer match between Scotland and Israel at Hampden Park, in Glasgow, Scotland, Tuesday, Nov. 20, 2018. (AP PhotoScott Heppell)
Lithuania's Justinas Janusevskis reacts during the UEFA Nations League soccer match between Serbia and Lithuania at Partizan stadium in Belgrade, Serbia, Tuesday Nov. 20, 2018. (AP PhotoDarko Vojinovic)
Israel's Sheran Yeini, left, and Scotland's Ryan Fraser challenge for the ball during the UEFA Nations League soccer match between Scotland and Israel at Hampden Park, in Glasgow, Scotland, Tuesday, Nov. 20, 2018. (AP PhotoScott Heppell)
Scotland's James Forrest reacts to heavy rain during the UEFA Nations League soccer match between Scotland and Israel at Hampden Park, in Glasgow, Scotland, Tuesday, Nov. 20, 2018. (AP PhotoScott Heppell)
Israel's goalkeeper Ariel Harush reacts at the end of the UEFA Nations League soccer match between Scotland and Israel at Hampden Park, in Glasgow, Scotland, Tuesday, Nov. 20, 2018. (AP PhotoScott Heppell)
Israel's Omri Ben Harush reacts at the end of the UEFA Nations League soccer match between Scotland and Israel at Hampden Park, in Glasgow, Scotland, Tuesday, Nov. 20, 2018. (AP PhotoScott Heppell)
Portugal players applaud the supporters at the end of the UEFA Nations League soccer match between Portugal and Poland at the D. Afonso Henriques stadium in Guimaraes, Portugal, Tuesday, Nov. 20, 2018. (AP PhotoManuel Araujo)
Serbia's Aleksandar Prijovic celebrates with teammates after scoring his side's third goal during the UEFA Nations League soccer match between Serbia and Lithuania at Partizan stadium in Belgrade, Serbia, Tuesday Nov. 20, 2018. (AP PhotoDarko Vojinovic)
Israel's Tomer Hemed, left, and Scotland's David Bates jump for the ball during the UEFA Nations League soccer match between Scotland and Israel at Hampden Park, in Glasgow, Scotland, Tuesday, Nov. 20, 2018. (AP PhotoScott Heppell)
The triumph comes only two months after Kosovo defeated the Faeroe Islands 2-0 for its first competitive win since being admitted to UEFA and FIFA events in 2016.
Poland's Arkadiusz Milik, 2nd left, celebrates after scoring his side's first goal during the UEFA Nations League soccer match between Portugal and Poland at the D. Afonso Henriques stadium in Guimaraes, Portugal, Tuesday, Nov. 20, 2018. (AP PhotoManuel Araujo)
After winning two other matches in the lower-tiered League D, Kosovo entered the final round in Group 3 needing at least a draw to finish in first place and guarantee the playoff berth.
Arber Zeneli scored a hat trick and Amir Rrahmani added another goal to keep Kosovo unbeaten and at the top of its group. It finished with 14 points from six matches, five points in front of second-place Azerbaijan.
Playing in the playoffs could give Kosovo a shortcut to Euro 2020 as it is unlikely to qualify directly from its group. It ended last in its European qualifying group for the 2018 World Cup.
Scotland's Steven Fletcher, left, and Israel's Taleb Twatha challenge for the ball during the UEFA Nations League soccer match between Scotland and Israel at Hampden Park, in Glasgow, Scotland, Tuesday, Nov. 20, 2018. (AP PhotoScott Heppell)
Making it to Euro 2020 would be a huge sporting success for the country, which declared independence from Serbia in 2008. The competition will be played in cities across Europe, including in some countries which still don't recognize Kosovo's independence.
In the top-tier League A, Final Four host Portugal ended the group stage with a 1-1 home draw against relegated Poland, while Sweden gained promotion from League B by defeating visiting Russia 2-0. Scotland moved up from League C by defeating Israel at home, as did Serbia after a 4-1 win over relegated Lithuania.
All group winners in the four leagues are guaranteed a place in the playoffs for Euro 2020.
Scotland's David Bates, atop, and Israel's Eli Dasa challenge for the ball during the UEFA Nations League soccer match between Scotland and Israel at Hampden Park, in Glasgow, Scotland, Tuesday, Nov. 20, 2018. (AP PhotoScott Heppell)
England, Switzerland and the Netherlands will join Italy in the Final Four in June.
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Lithuania's Justinas Janusevskis reacts during the UEFA Nations League soccer match between Serbia and Lithuania at Partizan stadium in Belgrade, Serbia, Tuesday Nov. 20, 2018. (AP PhotoDarko Vojinovic)
Israel's Sheran Yeini, left, and Scotland's Ryan Fraser challenge for the ball during the UEFA Nations League soccer match between Scotland and Israel at Hampden Park, in Glasgow, Scotland, Tuesday, Nov. 20, 2018. (AP PhotoScott Heppell)
Scotland's James Forrest reacts to heavy rain during the UEFA Nations League soccer match between Scotland and Israel at Hampden Park, in Glasgow, Scotland, Tuesday, Nov. 20, 2018. (AP PhotoScott Heppell)
Israel's goalkeeper Ariel Harush reacts at the end of the UEFA Nations League soccer match between Scotland and Israel at Hampden Park, in Glasgow, Scotland, Tuesday, Nov. 20, 2018. (AP PhotoScott Heppell)
Israel's Omri Ben Harush reacts at the end of the UEFA Nations League soccer match between Scotland and Israel at Hampden Park, in Glasgow, Scotland, Tuesday, Nov. 20, 2018. (AP PhotoScott Heppell)
Portugal players applaud the supporters at the end of the UEFA Nations League soccer match between Portugal and Poland at the D. Afonso Henriques stadium in Guimaraes, Portugal, Tuesday, Nov. 20, 2018. (AP PhotoManuel Araujo)
Serbia's Aleksandar Prijovic celebrates with teammates after scoring his side's third goal during the UEFA Nations League soccer match between Serbia and Lithuania at Partizan stadium in Belgrade, Serbia, Tuesday Nov. 20, 2018. (AP PhotoDarko Vojinovic)
Israel's Tomer Hemed, left, and Scotland's David Bates jump for the ball during the UEFA Nations League soccer match between Scotland and Israel at Hampden Park, in Glasgow, Scotland, Tuesday, Nov. 20, 2018. (AP PhotoScott Heppell)
