Spain deny Scotland the chance to book place in Euro 24
Spain kept Scotland from becoming the first team to secure a place at the 2024 European Championships by beating the visitors 2-0 yesterday for their 25th consecutive home win in qualifiers.
Scotland needed only a draw to clinch a spot at their second straight Euros and were still level at 0-0 after more than 70 minutes. But two late goals for Spain in Seville ended Scotland’s perfect qualifying record and kept first place in Group A up for grabs.
Scotland still lead the group with 15 points, three more than Spain, who have a game in hand, and five more than Norway, who won 4-0 at Cyprus with two goals by Erling Haaland. The top two from each group qualify automatically for Euro 2024 in Germany.
Scotland would still qualify if Norway fail to beat Spain at home on Monday. Spain can move to the top of the group if they win in Oslo.
“One of the challenges here was to come and compete with a top European side, which Spain are. We did that,” Scotland coach Steve Clarke said. “If the result doesn’t go our way when Norway host Spain, then we’re well equipped to take the point or points we need in the remaining two games next month. We’re in that position because of the enormous work we’ve done in the group so far.”
Israel were supposed to host Switzerland in Group I yesterday but their match was postponed until November because of their war with Hamas. Israel’s game at Kosovo scheduled for Monday was also postponed. Israel are now due to play three qualifiers in the one-week international break next month designed for just two games.
Alvaro Morata and Oihan Sancet scored for Spain, who extended their home winning streak in European qualifiers in a run that started after a 1-0 loss against Greece in 2003.
Morata broke the deadlock with a header from a cross by Jesus Navas in the 73rd minute and Sancet sealed the win from close range in the 86th at La Cartuja Stadium.
“We understood exactly how Scotland play,” Morata said. “They have tough, good footballers and we needed to ‘slow-cook’ the match. Eventually that worked and we got the three points.”
Scotland, who had no shots in the first half, thought they had taken a 1-0 lead on the hour when midfielder Scott McTominay scored with a superb free kick from a tight angle but the goal was disallowed for an apparent offside by Jack Hendry.
Scotland played at Euro 2020 in what was their first appearance at the tournament since 1996.
There were nearly 4000 loud provoking opponents.
Bryan Zaragoza, Fran Garcia and Sancet all made their Spain debuts off the bench in the second half.
Spain were without Nico Williams because of a back issue. Lamine Yamal and Yeremi Pino had already been dropped from the squad because of injuries earlier in the week.
Norway stay in contention
Haaland scored a pair of second-half goals to end a three-game scoreless streak and lead Norway to victory at last-placed Cyprus.
Alexander Sorloth had put the visitors ahead in the first half and Fredrik Aursnes closed the scoring with a late goal.
Other group
Romania missed a chance to take the Group I lead after a 0-0 draw at Belarus, while Kosovo kept alive their chances with a 3-0 win at Andorra.
Albania stayed in front in Group E by beating the Czech Republic 3-0, while Poland moved to second place with a 2-0 win at the Faroe Islands.
Turkey moved ahead of Croatia in Group D with a 1-0 win in Croatia. Latvia won 2-0 against third-placed Armenia at home in the group’s other match.
Russia in action
Russia defeated Cameroon 1-0 in their first men’s senior international game since the invasion of Ukraine against opponents from outside Asia.
Russia had previously played three Central Asian nations, plus Iran, Iraq and Qatar. They have been banned from Euro 2024 qualifying because of the war in Ukraine.
Cameroon’s football federation president Samuel Eto’o is under pressure while facing an investigating by the Confederation of African Football for alleged “improper conduct”.