It’s official: Scotland’s place at Euro 2024 has been secured after Spain beat Norway in Oslo on Sunday night.
The Tartan Army can now start booking their flights and hotels for Germany next summer after a goal from Gavi ended Norwegian hopes.
Steve Clarke’s men qualify without kicking a ball on the night, but their previous five wins from six group games are enough to cement their place with two group games remaining.
After Thursday night’s defeat in Sevilla, Scotland were hoping for Spain to get a result at the Ullevaal Stadion to avoid an anxious wait for next month’s games in Georgia and Glasgow.
And Luis de la Fuente’s side obliged by winning the game to also guarantee their own spot in Germany and keep their hopes of topping the group alive.
Spain and Scotland now go into the final two games knowing they have both qualified but still fighting it out with each other to finish in top spot of Group A.
Both sides are now equal on 15 points with Spain ahead on goal-difference going into the final games in November.
The Spanish side looked to have eased any pre-match nerves early when they had the ball in the back of the net early in the first-half, but celebrations were cut short when the goal was chopped off after a VAR check.
The visitors had the best of the opening stages but Norway came to close to the opening goal just before half-time when the ball fell to Manchester City’s prolific forward Erling Haaland but his shot was blocked by his former club teammate Laporte.
The sides went into the break even but Barcelona youngster Gavi with struck from close-range early in the second-half and this time the goal stood despite a lengthy VAR check by the officials.
Knowing their chances of reaching a first major tournament since 1998 were fading fast, the home side upped their performance levels and started to put the Spanish defence under pressure.
Teenager Antonio Nusa in particular looked lively as they tried to get themselves back into the game going into the last 30 minutes.
But Spain managed to regain the momentum and Feran Torres came close to doubling their lead on the 70 minute mark but he ballooned his wayward shot high and wide.
Alfredo Pedraza was next up and he hit the side netting with a long range effort as they tried to put the game to bed.
Haaland then forced a save from Unai Simon from a close range effort with around seven minutes left on the clock.
But it wasn’t to be for the home side as Spain secured the win that means the Tartan Army will be heading to Germany next year for their fourth European Championships.
Scotland and Spain now join Germany, France, Belgium and Portugal as the teams already qualified.
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