Croatia earns automatic qualification for Euro 2016, Norway enters play-off

Italy claimed first place in Group H of Euro 2016 qualifying with a 2-1 comeback win against Norway, allowing Croatia to sneak in and claim the second spot with its own 1-0 victory over Malta on Tuesday.

The results left the Norwegians the odd ones out in third place. They will have to slug it out in a two-legged play-off to determine a potential place in France next summer.

Italy also preserved its unbeaten streak in qualification matches, reaching the 50-game mark without a loss. The Azzurri last lost a qualifier in September 2006.

Norway had looked like the likely candidate to punch a direct ticket for Euro 2016, holding a 1-0 advantage over Italy for most of their match. But a late surge in the final 20 minutes turned the score on its head. Alessandro Florenzi equalised before Graziano Pelle scored his third goal of the campaign to complete the rally.

Registering only two attempts on goal - and one on target - hurt Norway in its quest to reach a major tournament for just the fifth time.

The Croats, however, produced the necessary goods in Malta. A one-point penalty for racist behaviour during a qualifier in June threatened to push Croatia out of a straight route to France.

It needed to win on this final day, and it needed Norway to drop points.

That's exactly what happened.