Norway vs Spain

Ullevall Stadion is the venue as Norway face off against Spain in a ‘make or break’ Euro 2024 qualifier.

The math is simple for Norway if they’re to preserve their dwindling hopes of making the cut for Euro 2024 and appear at only their second-ever Euros finals. Anything other than a victory against Spain would officially rule them out of contention for a top-two finish in Group A as they commence this pivotal round two points adrift of their second-placed visitors despite playing one more game. A 2-1 home loss to Scotland in mid-June was a wake-up call for Stale Solbakken’s men, who have since won all three Euro 2024 qualifiers by a combined score of 9-2, most recently dispatching minnows Cyprus 4-0 on the road. But since they last won a match against Spain in 2000 (D1, L4 since), their hard work in recent qualifying games could be in vain.

On the other hand, Spain can afford a slip-up in Oslo as long as they can beat Group A strugglers Cyprus and Georgia in the remaining two qualifiers after denying Scotland early qualification with a 2-0 home win in midweek. It wasn’t a straightforward task, as were their mind-blowing triumphs over Cyprus (6-0) and Georgia (7-1) in September, but it was enough to bring them a step closer to reaching every Euros finals since 1992. Luis De La Fuente’s appointment after Luis Enrique’s disappointing 2022 World Cup result has been a resounding success, with ‘La Roja’ winning six of their seven internationals under the new manager (L1). Another victory is well on the cards, knowing the Spaniards have only lost four away Euro qualifiers in the 21st century (W18, D5), with 12 of those 18 wins coming ‘to nil.’