UEFA EURO 2024 qualifier
Spain v Scotland
Thursday, 12 October 2023 (kick-off 7.45pm - UK time)
Estadio La Cartuja de Sevilla, Seville

Scotland will aim to secure qualification for UEFA EURO 2024 as they take on top seeds Spain on Thursday night. 

The top two seeds will face off in Seville with Steve Clarke’s side looking to repeat their heroics in what was a momentous win over the Spaniards at Hampden in March this year.

Scott McTominay was the hero that night with two goals and the Manchester United midfielder has kept up his red-hot scoring form throughout the campaign with six goals in total, leaving him second in the overall top scorer charts in EURO 2024 qualification.

Although Scotland proudly boast a perfect record in the campaign so far, sitting on top of Group A on 15 points with five wins from five, they know that a win is not required on Thursday night to capture automatic qualification, a draw being good enough to secure the ultimate goal.

The unprecedented start to the campaign – no Scotland side having ever won their first five matches in qualification before now – means that Scotland can qualify with only a draw tomorrow night, or could even lose and qualify should Norway drop points while playing Cyprus.

Previous Meetings

The two sides have played 14 times, Spain narrowly holding the advantage with six victories to Scotland’s four, with four stalemates. They first played way back in 1957, Scotland landing the first blow with a 4-2 victory in FIFA World Cup qualification in front of nearly 90,000 fans at Hampden.

Scotland can also lay claim to the biggest victory margin between the two sides, a 6-2 win in the Santiago Bernabeu in a friendly international in 1963, a match in which Scotland legend Denis Law opened the scoring.

Prior to Scotland’s victory in march this year they had failed to beat Spain in nearly 40 years, the previous victory coming in November 1984 – a 3-1 win at Hampden in World Cup qualifying in which Maurice Johnston and Kenny Dalglish scored.

Team News 

Scott McKenna, Liam Cooper, Greg Taylor and Jacob Brown all returned to the squad for this international window, with a place open in the defence to vie for with Kieran Tierney was ruled out after picking up an injury playing for his new club, Real Sociedad.

Ryan Jack and Kevin Nisbet were forced to withdraw from the squad due to injury, leaving Steve Clarke with 23 players from which to choose.

Pre-match thoughts 

Scotland goalkeeper Angus Gunn won only his second cap against Spain in March, keeping his second clean sheet in the famous victory. Since then he has played every minute for Scotland, conceding only one goal in his five competitive matches so far – an Erling Haaland penalty.

Angus Gunn: “We are confident. It’s a great atmosphere in the squad. We have done unbelievably well so far and we are nearly there so it’s down to us to stay professional and go over to Spain and hopefully get the result we want.

“With what we have done so far, we have given ourselves the confidence that we can go there and get a result, and obviously the points we have on the board gives us less pressure to get a result, so we can play with more freedom and hopefully, like we have done at Hampden, go away and score a few goals as well.

“It’s been unbelievable the nights we have had so far. Beating Spain and going to Norway and getting that last-minute winner.

“I find myself at home watching all the videos back and the commentaries. It’s been a bit of a whirlwind but it’s been unbelievable and hopefully there’s more to come.

“Every time I watch them I get goosebumps. Kenny (McLean)’s winner in Norway, I always go back to the club and play it loud in the changing room so all the lads can hear it.

“Those kind of moments live long in the memory of the fans and not just them, it’s the players as well.”

 

Scotland Squad

 

Goalkeepers
Zander Clark Heart of Midlothian
Angus Gunn Norwich City
Liam Kelly Motherwell

Defenders
Liam Cooper Leeds United
Jack Hendry Al-Ettifaq
Aaron Hickey Brentford
Scott McKenna Nottingham Forest
Nathan Patterson* Everton
Ryan Porteous Watford
Andy Robertson Liverpool
John Souttar Rangers
Greg Taylor Celtic

Midfielders
Stuart Armstrong Southampton
Lewis Ferguson Bologna
Billy Gilmour* Brighton
John McGinn Aston Villa
Callum McGregor Celtic
Kenny McLean Norwich City
Scott McTominay Manchester United

Forwards
Ché Adams Southampton
Jacob Brown Luton Town
Ryan Christie Bournemouth
Lyndon Dykes Queens Park Rangers

*Denotes Scottish FA JD Performance School graduate