Scotland has successfully qualified for Euro 2024 with two games remaining, thanks to Spain’s 1-0 victory over Norway, which secured their top-two finish in Group A.
Currently, Scotland trails Spain only on goal difference, while Norway, trailing by five points with just one match left, cannot catch up to either team.
Under the leadership of Steve Clarke, Scotland’s national men’s team has now reached the European Championships for the second consecutive time and has made it through the qualifying stage to reach a major final for the first time since 1997.
Scotland had an opportunity to secure their spot in Seville on Thursday, but they suffered a 2-0 defeat to Spain, their first loss in six qualifiers.
However, Scotland’s five victories in their first five games put pressure on Norway to win their final three matches. Even though Norway defeated Cyprus 4-0 on Thursday, they were defeated in Oslo as Spain secured their own and Scotland’s qualification.
Alvaro Morata had a first-half goal disallowed due to offside before Gavi scored the only goal of the game in the 49th minute, as the visitors neutralized the threat from Norway and the Manchester City superstar striker Erling Haaland.
Norway, whose last appearance in major tournaments dates back to Euro 2000, can now only potentially qualify through playoffs, but they need to maintain their third-place position and hope that Serbia qualifies from Group G to be eligible.
Scotland has two matches remaining, one away against Georgia and the other at home against Norway next month, as they aim to surpass Spain as the group winners and improve their chances of being a top seed in the draw.
Spain will conclude their campaign by facing the bottom two teams, with a trip to Cyprus followed by a home game against Georgia.
Scotland and Spain join Portugal, France, Belgium, and Turkey in reaching next summer’s finals, while Germany automatically qualifies as the host nation.
Scotland endured a 23-year absence from major tournaments before reaching the delayed Euro 2020 two years ago by winning a playoff they secured via the Nations League.
Having missed out on qualification for last year’s World Cup, Clarke has now become the first manager to guide Scotland to successive European Championships.
