Scotland qualify for Euro 2024 after Norway are beaten by Spain

15 October 2023 , 20:43

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Erling Haaland's Norway have missed out on automatic qualification (Image: UEFA via Getty Images)

Scotland have qualified for Euro 2024 after Norway were beaten by Spain in their Group A clash in Oslo.

Norway needed to collect all three points to put pressure on Scotland and keep qualification wide open. But their 1-0 defeat means Scotland are guaranteed to finish in one of the top two qualification spots as their path to next summer's tournament in Germany was sealed.

Scotland's defeat to Spain on Thursday looked to have afforded Norway a route back in as they lost 2-0 courtesy of late goals from Alvaro Morata and Oihan Sanchez. Scotland are scheduled to play their final two qualifiers in the next international break in November, first away to Georgia, before what could have been a mouth-watering tie at home to Norway which could have decided who sealed automatic progress.

That scenario will no longer come to pass, though the tie could well still have ramifications for who tops the group, with Spain and Scotland now level on 15 points with two games each remaining. Norway are third on 10 points but only have one match - the Scotland clash - left to play, though can still qualify via the playoffs.

Spain grabbed all three points against Norway thanks to Gavi's second-half winner. They travel to Cyprus before hosting Georgia in their final two group fixtures next month as they aim to finish strongly to top the group.

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Elsewhere in Euro qualification,Harry Wilson celebrated his 50th cap with a brilliant double as Wales boosted their Euro 2024 automatic qualification hopes with a 2-1 win over Croatia in Cardiff.

Wilson rewarded an excellent home performance with two clinical second-half strikes, enough to stave off a late Croatia rally that saw Mario Pasalic convert 15 minutes from time.

Wales came into the contest knowing victories in their final three group games were probably necessary to secure a top-two place and avoid the play-offs in March.

Rob Page’s side still have to work to do in November – away to Armenia and at home to group leaders Turkey – but upsetting the 2022 World Cup semi-finalists in such fashion offers great encouragement.

This win takes Wales into second place above Croatia by virtue of them having done better in their head-to-head ties, the Dragons having drawn their opening game of the campaign 1-1 in Split in March.

Darren Wells