Euro 2024: Scotland on the Brink While Spain Eye Top Spot

Spain vs Scotland

The two top teams in qualifying Group A meet in Seville on Thursday night as Euro 2024: Spain vs Scotland is the offer and it’s sure to deliver some top-level drama.

Steve Clarke’s Scotland are the surprise package in this group, and they can qualify for the European showcase next year with a win in Spain. But that is a tall order against Luis de la Fuente’s Spain, who desperately need the points to keep their campaign on track.

La Roja sit six points behind Scotland with a game in hand, so a home win will put them in the driving seat, with a strong Norway side lurking just two points behind the hosts. The Euro 2024 betting odds are backing the hosts heavily, and anything other than a home win could make it a famous night for the Tartan Army.

Spain will come into the game on the back of a 6-0 thumping of Cyprus in the qualifiers, while Scotland lost 1-3 at home to England in a September friendly.

Talking Points

Fati and Zaragoza in for Spain

We could be entering a golden era in Spanish football with the domestic league becoming ever more competitive and the national team boasting an exciting young squad, with the likes of Barcelona’s Gavi and Ferran Torres in the frame and their team-mate Pedri on the way back from injury.

And De La Fuente has drafted two more young stars into his group for the Scotland game. 20-year-old striker Anus Fati, now on loan at Brighton and Hove Albion, and Granada’s 22-year-old forward Bryan Zaragoza have both received the manager’s call.

Zaragoza is in line for an international debut after impressing over the past 12 months in Granada’s promotion campaign, and he already has five goals so far this season, including two in a 2-2 draw against Barcelona last weekend.

At 5 feet 5 inches he has a low centre of gravity and his quick feet and sublime skill on the ball helped Zaragoza terrorize the Blaugrana defence and he was unlucky not to complete a hat-trick.

The Spanish young guns have experience to look up to. Atletico Madrid’s Alvaro Morata has been in superb form this season, and he will lead the line again, with either Fati and Zaragoza playing off him, while Manchester City ace Rodri will pull the strings in midfield.

The Finish Line is in view for Scotland

The Tartan Army are already packing their bags for Germany after a sensational opening five games. Scotland made a flying start to their campaign with wins over Cyprus, Spain, and Norway in the bag, and by the time they met Georgia in Round Four, Clarke’ men were way out in front of he rest.

The Scots won that game and have beaten Cyprus again to put them within touching distance of the finals.

The Scots can qualify on Thursday night, but if Norway win both their games over the next week, then a defeat for Clarke’s men will leave them waiting until November when they play the Norwegians and Georgia at home.

It’s just a case of holding their nerve, and surely qualification will come sooner or later for Scotland.

The nation’s outstanding performer has been Manchester United midfielder Scott McTominay, who has six goals in the campaign, while Liverpool wingback Andrew Robertson remains an inspirational captain.

History

Spain are one of the most successful nations in 21^st century Europe, winning the Euros in 2008 and 2012 and reaching the semi-finals in 2021, where they outplayed eventual winners Italy, but were unlucky to lose to the Azzurri on penalties. Scotland are hoping to qualify for the finals for the second time this century and they are so close.

La Roja have had much the better of the Euro 2024 results with three wins from the five previous meetings, one draw and one defeat in their head-to-heads. That defeat came in the second match of this qualifying group, when a McTominay double gave the Scots a stunning 2-0 victory.

McTominay bagged another brace only last Saturday as Manchester United came back to beat Brentford 2-1, with both goals coming in injury time.

Both teams come into the game in great form, with five wins out of six.

Betting Tip

Spain are at SBOTOP odds of 1.27 to win this huge match, with the draw at 5.03 and Scotland at 7.72.

Clarke’s men can almost dream of Germany, but they could get a dose of reality in Seville this week. I’d back Rodri to keep McTominay quiet, and Spain have the flair players to take advantage.

 

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