What do Scotland need to qualify for Euro 2024?
Scotland sit top of Pool A going into tonight’s match against Spain and are on track to qualify for Euro 2024 having gained 15 points over five games. The United Kingdom and Ireland were officially awarded the tournament for 2028 on Tuesday, but Germany play host to the tournament next year, meaning a golden opportunity for the Tartan Army to feature at consecutive European Championships. Scotland are currently six points ahead of Spain, who have a game in hand, and still have Georgia and Norway to face in November to complete the Euro qualifiers. If Scotland draw or win against Spain, they will qualify for Euro 2024. However, they can also qualify with some help from the other Pool A match between Norway and Cyprus. If Norway lose or draw to beat Cyprus, then Scotland will also qualify regardless of their result against Spain. A brace from Scott McTominay saw Steve Clarke’s side storm to a 2-0 victory over Spain at Hampden Park in March. It was Spain manager Luis de la Fuente’s second game in charge. “I don’t see it as revenge,” he said as he previewed the second match against Scotland. “I see it as a game, we’ll fight to win and it’s a responsibility because we represent a country. “It’s not revenge, it’s another football game, a very important one, but a game. “The team gives me confidence, security, they are responsible, professional, add the talent the players have and I am very calm. “Of course we drew conclusions (after the defeat), the important one is that now we’re better than we were then, a better team than we were,” he added. If Scotland lose and fail to qualify this week, they will qualify with a win in their penultimate match next month against Georgia. If they draw that game, they will still qualify if Norway fail to beat Spain. If Scotland draw against Georgia and Norway defeat Spain, Scotland will still qualify even with a one-goal loss in their home match to Norway to finish off Group A, provided they have a superior goal difference in the group. Scotland currently have a +11 goal difference with Norway on -1. If Scotland lose to Spain and then also lose to Georgia, while Norway win back-to-back games against Cyprus and Spain, Scotland would be required to draw at home to Norway in the final match to qualify. Even if Scotland lose their final three matches, they could still qualify even after Norway win their final three matches, should Spain fail to win either of their final two matches against Cyprus and Georgia. If Spain only win one of those final two matches and also finish on 15 points with Scotland behind Norway, on 16 points in this scenario, then the head-to-head rule would apply against Spain, with Scotland currently holding a 2-0 advantage after their win at Hampden Park. "I think when we played them in March, so we’re probably just in a little bit of transition between the previous coach and the new coach," Scotland manager Clarke said. "They’d had a disappointing World Cup campaign so maybe we got them at a good time. We know we have to be very, very good to get a positive result,” he added ahead of the fixture in Seville. Read More Is Spain v Scotland on TV? Channel, start time and how to watch Euro 2024 qualifier online tonight How Scotland became the one team Rodri could not defeat Euro 2028: Will host nations get automatic qualification? How Scotland became the one team Rodri could not defeat Is Spain v Scotland on TV? Channel, start time and how to watch Euro 2024 qualifier Bukayo Saka ‘in contention’ for Arsenal vs Man City as Gareth Southgate reveals plan
Scotland sit top of Pool A going into tonight’s match against Spain and are on track to qualify for Euro 2024 having gained 15 points over five games.
The United Kingdom and Ireland were officially awarded the tournament for 2028 on Tuesday, but Germany play host to the tournament next year, meaning a golden opportunity for the Tartan Army to feature at consecutive European Championships.
Scotland are currently six points ahead of Spain, who have a game in hand, and still have Georgia and Norway to face in November to complete the Euro qualifiers.
If Scotland draw or win against Spain, they will qualify for Euro 2024. However, they can also qualify with some help from the other Pool A match between Norway and Cyprus.
If Norway lose or draw to beat Cyprus, then Scotland will also qualify regardless of their result against Spain.
A brace from Scott McTominay saw Steve Clarke’s side storm to a 2-0 victory over Spain at Hampden Park in March. It was Spain manager Luis de la Fuente’s second game in charge.
“I don’t see it as revenge,” he said as he previewed the second match against Scotland. “I see it as a game, we’ll fight to win and it’s a responsibility because we represent a country.
“It’s not revenge, it’s another football game, a very important one, but a game.
“The team gives me confidence, security, they are responsible, professional, add the talent the players have and I am very calm.
“Of course we drew conclusions (after the defeat), the important one is that now we’re better than we were then, a better team than we were,” he added.
If Scotland lose and fail to qualify this week, they will qualify with a win in their penultimate match next month against Georgia. If they draw that game, they will still qualify if Norway fail to beat Spain. If Scotland draw against Georgia and Norway defeat Spain, Scotland will still qualify even with a one-goal loss in their home match to Norway to finish off Group A, provided they have a superior goal difference in the group. Scotland currently have a +11 goal difference with Norway on -1.
If Scotland lose to Spain and then also lose to Georgia, while Norway win back-to-back games against Cyprus and Spain, Scotland would be required to draw at home to Norway in the final match to qualify. Even if Scotland lose their final three matches, they could still qualify even after Norway win their final three matches, should Spain fail to win either of their final two matches against Cyprus and Georgia. If Spain only win one of those final two matches and also finish on 15 points with Scotland behind Norway, on 16 points in this scenario, then the head-to-head rule would apply against Spain, with Scotland currently holding a 2-0 advantage after their win at Hampden Park.
"I think when we played them in March, so we’re probably just in a little bit of transition between the previous coach and the new coach," Scotland manager Clarke said.
"They’d had a disappointing World Cup campaign so maybe we got them at a good time. We know we have to be very, very good to get a positive result,” he added ahead of the fixture in Seville.
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