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  • Writer's pictureDale Roberts

The longest qualification streaks following Eurovision 2021


Credit: EBU / Thomas Hanses

Going into Eurovision 2021 only two nations had 100% qualifying records at Eurovision: Australia and Ukraine.


Unfortunately for Aussie fans our run came to an end leaving Ukraine as the sole country with a perfect record.


That ended a run of four qualifications in a row for Australia with Denmark also seeing their streak of three stopped in its tracks.


So other than Ukraine's long standing perfect record, what are the current longest qualifying streaks?


We took a look:


1. Ukraine - 12 qualifications (2004 to 2021)



Ukraine have had to qualify through to the Grand Final on 12 occasions, getting through every time.


They also made the Grand Final automatically in 2003 when there were no semi-finals, twice as host and once as a Top 10 the year before.


The closest they've come to missing out is finishing 8th in 2012 with 'Be My Guest'


2. Sweden - 8 qualifications (2011 to 2021)


After Sweden's Anna Bergendahl non-qualified in 2010, Sweden has gone on to make the Grand Final on every occasion.


Before 2021 they had finished in the Top 3 of every semi-final since that NQ, but Tusse struggled a little this year, finishing in 7th place. He was 32 points ahead of 11th place but that may be enough to make the Swedes a little nervous.


3. Cyprus - 6 qualifications (2015 - 2021)



As a small nation, Cyprus has done remarkably well to make the Grand Final six times in a row.


They did of course finish runner-up in 2018 but all other entries have been outside the Top 10. The closest entry to missing out was Tamta with 'Replay' who finished 9th in her semi-final.


4. Bulgaria - 4 qualifications (2016 - 2021)


After not qualifying for six years running, Bulgaria turned things around in 2016 with 'When Love Was a Crime' finishing 4th. This set up a runner-up finish in 2017 and another two qualifying entries in 2018 and 2021 to prove Bulgaria are a new force at Eurovision.


4. Norway - 4 qualifications (2017 - 2021)



After a somewhat surprising non-qualification in 2016 Norway have made the final four times in a row including two Top 10 finishes. Tix did only just squeeze through though, finishing in 10th place just 5 points ahead of Croatia. This equals their four qualifications in a row between 2012-2015. Can they make it 5 in 2022?


4. The Netherlands - 4 qualifications (2016 - 2019)


Although we don't count 'Birth of a New Age' as it didn't have to qualify, the Dutch still hold their four qualifications in a row ranging from Douwe Bob's 'Slow Down' in 2016 to Duncan Laurence's 'Arcade' in 2019. Can they keep it going in 2022?


7. Albania - 3 qualifications (2018-2021)



After not qualifying four out of five years, Albania have turned it around for three Grand Finals in a row. All three acts have been in Albanian language with the best result from Eugent Bushpepa with 'Mall' finishing 11th in 2018.


7. Serbia - 3 qualifications (2018 - 2021)


After missing out on the 2017 Grand Final by finishing 11th in their semi-final, Serbia have qualified three years running. All results have been in the teens with 'Loco Loco' their best result in 15th.



On the other end of the scale these nations are struggling:



Georgia - 4 non-qualifications (2017 - 2021)



Since qualifying for the Grand Final with 'Midnight Gold', the Georgians have missed out on every occasion. They were unlucky finishing 11th in 2017 with 'Keep the Faith' but also saw a last place in the semi-final in 2018 and a second-last this year with 'You'.


Latvia - 4 non-qualifications (2017 - 2021)



After Justs with 'Heartbeats' made the Grand Final in 2016, it's been heartbreak for Latvia. Laura Rizzotto did come close in 2018 with 'Funny Girl' but they've also had two last places in the semi-final with Triana Park and Samanta Tina.


On three non-qualifiers each is Croatia, Poland and Romania.


Will some of these top nations drop out, can Australia bounce back and can some of these struggling nations make it in 2022? We'll find out in Italy!











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