Spain vs Scotland

The stakes are at an all-time high for Spain as they welcome Scotland to the Estadio de La Cartuja in a must-win UEFA European Championship 2024 showdown.

A failed attempt to qualify for an eighth straight Euro finals would be an epic fiasco for the three-time European champions, but Spain’s recent run of form suggests they’re reluctant to let that happen. Luis de la Fuente’s men won both Euro 2024 qualifying fixtures in September via a combined score of 13-1, putting 6+ goals past Georgia and Cyprus en route to seizing a coveted runner-up spot in Group A. With a two-point lead over third-placed Norway and a game in hand, ‘La Furia Roja’ are in the driver’s seat to book their tickets for Germany. However, a potential slip-up here would offer the Norwegians a chance to leapfrog them into second, putting a significant amount of pressure on De la Fuente’s injury-hit squad to extend their jaw-dropping run of 24 consecutive home wins in Euro qualifying campaigns.

Reaching back-to-back Euro finals for the second time in the nation’s history looks like a virtual certainty for Scotland following an outstanding five-game winning start to their Group A journey. Steve Clarke’s high-flyers four multi-goal margin victories in their opening five Euro 2024 qualifiers, including a memorable 2-0 win over Spain at Hampden Park in March. However, you’d need to go back to 1963 for the last time the ‘Tartan Army’ emerged victorious on Spanish soil, which could dampen the spirits in the visiting camp. A disappointing 3-1 loss to neighbors England in a friendly last time out already clipped Scotland’s wings, but since they only need one point to secure a berth in next summer’s tournament, they ought to take this trip in a buoyant mood.