Scotland qualify for Euro 2024 finals as Spain edge out Norway in Oslo

Norway, eight points behind the national team in Group A with three games remaining, needed to beat Spain at the Ullevaal Stadium in Oslo this evening to keep their hopes of finishing in the top two in their section and qualifying automatically alive.

Scotland were left distraught in La Cartuja in Seville on Thursday evening as they lost the first match of their campaign 2-0 after having a spectacular Scott McTominay free kick disallowed following a controversial VAR check.

However, their players, coaches and supporters were cheering applauding their conquerors as they narrowly overcame their Scandinavian hosts thanks to a solitary Gavi goal in the second half.

The venue for the encoutner was the scene of a memorable result for Steve Clarke’s players back in June – goals from Lyndon Dykes and Kenny McLean in the final four minutes of regulation time had snatched a 2-1 triumph from the jaws of defeat.

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Would it be the scene of another joyous 90 minutes for the boys in dark blue even though they were not involved? It certainly would. Scotland's participation in their second consecutive European Championship finals was confirmed when the final whistle blew.

Spain had romped to a comfortable 3-0 triumph over their opponents in Malaga in March thanks to a Dani Carvajal goal and a double from debutant Joselu.

But Norway manager Stale Solbakken was missing Erling Haaland that evening – and the Manchester City striker had plundered six goals in four games since returning to the fray.

The £50m forward, the most prolific No 9 in world football in the past few seasons, had been on target twice in a 4-0 win over Cyprus in Larnaca in midweek to take his tally for the 2023/24 campaign to 11.

The Lions are far from a one man team too; Orjan Nyland (Sevilla), Julian Ryerson (Borussia Dortmund), Leo Ostigard (Napoli), Martin Odegaard (Arsenal), Oscar Bobb (City), Frederik Aursanes (Benfica) all play their club football at a high level.

Luis de la Fuente made three changes to the starting line-up which had taken to the field three days earlier; Fabian Rui, Fabian Ruiz and Ansu Fati came in as Alejandro Balde, Mikel Merino and Mikel Oyarzabal dropped out.

His charges picked up exactly where they left off in their own country. Spain quickly took control of proceedings, silenced the sell-out 28,000-strong crowd and looked to have taken the lead when their captain Alvaro Morata netted from a yard or two out.

Stefan Strandberg failed to clear a Carvajal chip into his area and inadvertently diverted the ball beyond goalkeeper Nyland. It was just about to cross the line when Morata, like all good strikers, helped it in.

However, German referee Tobias Stieler was urged by his VAR colleagues to view a replay on his pitchside monitor. He determined the scorer had been offside when the initial delivery was made and the score remained level.

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In ordinary circumstances, Scotland fans would have revelled in the moment. Karma much? But these were far from ordinary circumstances. They were just as devastated as they had been when the McTominay effort had not been allowed to stand.

It was a weird evening and then some. Rodri, who became a hate figure for Tartan Army footsoldiers after Scotland had beaten Spain 2-0 at Hampden with his bitter derogatory comments about how Andy Robertson and his team mates had performed, went agonisingly close from long-range.

Fans of the national team found themselves in the strange situation of willing the City midfielder to score.   

Norway came back into the game before half-time and Haaland had a couple of opportunities to break the deadlock. He had a shot blocked by Aymeric Laporte and was then dispossessed by the same player after making a powerful run upfield and getting into a decent shooting position.

The longer the game remained scoreless, the more nerves grew.

The prospect of Scotland needing to get a result against Georgia in Tbilisi – where they had, with disastrous consequences, lost their previous two qualifiers - next month to get across the line had become even less attractive earlier in the day. Their next opponents romped to an emphatic 4-0 win over Cyprus at home.

There was a collective sigh of relief when Gavi found the target four minutes into the second half after two attempts by his team mates had been blocked.

But there was an interminable wait for the Barcelona midfielder’s strike to be given. Indeed, it was nearly five minutes until Stieler made his call. There was, too, confusion over what potential infringement was being looked at once again. UEFA must review their current procedures. They are not fit for purpose.  

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Clarke, whose men take on France in a friendly in Lille on Tuesday evening, had stated before the Spain game on Thursday night that he would prefer Scotland to clinch their place at the Euro 2024 finals themselves and did not want favours from any of their Group A rivals.

But making it through to Germany is a reward for the unprecedented run of form they have produced during this campaign; they beat Cyprus and Spain at home in March, Norway away and Georgia at home in June and Cyprus away last month. Scotland had never won their first five qualifiers before.

The friendly defeat to England in Glasgow last month and the Spain reverse showed there remains room for improvement. The outcome of the game in Norway means they lost top spot in their section and may now not be among the top seeds when the draw is made in Hamburg in December.

Still, for a country which went 23 long years without being involved at a major tournament that is a minor irritation.  To qualify with two games to spare is a remarkable achievement for a nation to this size and reason to rejoice. Arise Sir Steve Clarke?