The Scottish national football team is off to a flyer in the Euro 2024 qualification. A starting win over Cyprus at Hampden Park was no surprise, with McTominay scoring two late goals.
However, no one could have predicted a 2-0 triumph against Spain three days later. The Man United player scored a brace to send Scotland to the top of group A.
Steve Clarke, former St Mirren and Chelsea defender, lead the Scots. During his professional career, Clarke was a unique player and a leader whose characteristics and qualities are rare in today’s football world. Here, we will explore details about the possibilities of Scotland’s team to seal its presence for Euro 2024 and how it can accomplish its mission.
Scotland’s win against Spain made them robust favourites
Scotland has been drawn in Group A of Euro 2024 qualifiers, together with Spain, Norway, Georgia, and Cyprus. All teams will play against each other home and away, in a round-robin format, with the two best-placed terms advancing directly to the tournament in Germany.
The Scottish national football team kicked off the Euro 2024 qualifying campaign at Hampden Park in a match against Cyprus. More than 48,000 spectators in Glasgow witness a convincing 3-0 win for the home team. McGinn made it 1-0, while two late goals from McTominay sealed the win. Three days after that game, Scotland took on Spain at the same stadium and emerged victorious after a thrilling 90 minutes. Scott McTominay was once again the home side's hero, scoring a brace against the Spanish.
The well-deserved victory is crucial for Scotland. In addition to ensuring the perfect start to the campaign, it's the first win against Spain in 39 years and the national team's third-ever competitive triumph against La Rioja. Scotland's victory over Spain represents the country's most significant result since it beat France at the Stade de France in 2007.
The first Spanish defeat in a Euro qualifier since 2014 shows Scotland is a team very much on the up. Since two teams will qualify for the final tournament, a high-profile win like this could help the Scots reach the Euro for the second time in a row.
Spain captain Rodri heavily criticised Scotland's defensive tactics. According to Sky Sports, the Spanish player described the team's approach to football as "rubbish". The Man City star accused Scotland of provocation and time-wasting. But he wasn't the only Spanish player to complain. David Garcia, who debuted at Hampden Park, blamed the length of the pitch for his side's poor result. In a post-match interview, the Osasuna midfielder explained the grass had been too long.
Scotland’s different playing style has changed its recent status
Thanks to its excellent start to the campaign, many punters believe that Scotland will have no problem qualifying for Euro 2024. If you’re one of them, this is the perfect moment to place a bet on your team. You can do that by visiting any of the Bookmakers.bet brands.
In both qualifying matches, Scotland played with three defenders and only one man in front. However, two players were behind the striker against Cyprus and only one against Spain. In the opening fixture of the campaign, Steve Clarke's team scored three goals, had more possession, more attempts, and nearly four times more attacks. However, Clarke used a somewhat defensive stance against Spain. The away side had twice as many attacks, possessing 68%. Still, the Scots had more attempts. Stats show the home team defended more, but it didn't help Spain return home undefeated.
Steve Clarke was appointed the Scottish national football team manager in 2019. He inherited a team on a downward trajectory, struggling to get a half-empty Hampden Park for its home matches. The new manager focused on improving the squad and brought stability and engagement with fans to re-establish the relationship between players and supporters.
The results followed, and in 2020 the team reached the Euro after beating Israel and Serbia in the playoffs.
The Scottish national team is dominated by Premier League, Championship, and Serie A players, with at least seven players that could be called up. Callum McGregor, Ryan Jack, and Anthony Ralston are the only outfield representatives of Scotland’s top flight. Lewis Ferguson has been impressive in Italy. But Clarke has successfully united the differences in their playing style to create a cohesive side that has become a formidable force on the pitch.
Scotland should illustrate consistency to achieve their goals
Despite an excellent start to the campaign, there are plenty of games ahead of Scotland. In the summer, Steve Clarke’s squad travels to Norway to face the team led by the Man City star Erling Haaland. It could be a crucial match for the Scots, as their opponent also wants to secure a spot in the Euro. Norway lost 3-0 against Spain in the opening game of the campaign and then surprisingly drew 1-1 with Georgia. Anything but a win could pose a severe problem for Stale Solbakken and his side.
Scotland may not overperform in games against Georgia and Cyprus to claim the W, but the upcoming match in Norway could be the biggest test for Clarke's men. Moreover, if the trip to Spain ends in a defeat, this last fixture versus Norway may be decisive for the nation's hopes of reaching the Euro.
The second game against Spain is scheduled to take part in October, and by then, we’ll have a much clearer picture of Scotland’s odds of qualifying. As BBC reported, they have significantly increased after the first two games. Still, Scotland should be focused on its upcoming matches and ensure consistency and robustness.
Several factors could impact Scotland’s chances of going to Germany. Performance in the next six fixtures is probably the most important one.
The form of key players and injuries will play a significant role in determining Scotland's success. Coach Clarke has already proven he's more than capable of delivering excellent results, and with his determination and commitment, his side has nothing to fear.
All in all, the depth of Scotland's squad will also be the most critical factor in determining the team's success. After a long time, players' quality encourages the Scots to make it to the tournament.