Spain will be looking to exact revenge on Scotland in Euro 2024 qualifying. At Hampden Park on matchday two earlier this year, La Roja unexpectedly fell to the Tartan Army 2-0 thanks to two goals from Scott McTominay.
Preview (Spain vs. Scotland)
After suffering their first loss under new head coach Luis de la Fuente in just his second game in charge against Scotland in Glasgow, La Roja has responded well, putting together a four-game winning streak across two different competitions and winning their first-ever UEFA Nations League trophy in the process. They defeated Croatia in a penalty shootout in the final after defeating Italy 2-1 in the Nations League semi-finals. Since then, they have racked up two resounding victories against Georgia and Cyprus in the Euro 2024 qualifying round.
In fact, Spain’s captain Alvaro Morata’s hat-trick helped his team to a 7-1 victory over Georgia. It came only four days before they racked up six unanswered points against Cyprus. It keeps them in the running for Group A’s top spot. With a game in hand over Scotland, De la Fuente’s team still has a lot of work to do if they hope to unseat the Tartan Army from the top spot in Group A. A victory on Thursday would bring La Roja to within three points of Scotland.
They have won all 24 of their previous home Euro qualifying games dating back to October 2003. It included a 3-1 triumph over Scotland in their most recent encounter in October 2011. In addition to maintaining their unblemished start in Group A with victories over Norway, Georgia, and Cyprus, Scotland is still living in the glory of their epic victory over Spain seven months ago, their first versus La Roja in 39 years. To qualify for the 2018 Euros in Germany, Steve Clarke’s team simply needs to avoid losing to Spain on Thursday. Scotland also needs to win six of their remaining three qualification games in order to finish first in Group A.
Team News
Lamine Yamal, a young star for Spain and Barcelona who last month became the youngest player and goal scorer for La Roja in a victory over Georgia at the age of just 16, has been forced to withdraw from the national team squad owing to a hip injury. Ansu Fati, a Brighton & Hove Albion loanee, has rejoined the senior squad. Bryan Zaragoza, of Granada, has received his first senior call-up as a result of Pino’s withdrawal. Both players could play some part on Thursday.
Ferran Torres, a Barca teammate recently scored twice against Cyprus. He might play in attack alongside Morata and Nico Williams in Yamal’s absence. Alejandro Balde is expected to start at left-back in Gaya’s place. Ryan Jack of Rangers and Kevin Nisbet of Millwall are both out for Scotland due to injuries. Kieran Tierney, who is on loan from Real Sociedad, is also out with a hamstring injury. Elliot Anderson of Newcastle United is still deciding whether he wants to play for Scotland or England internationally.
In lieu of Tierney, Jack Hendry, Ryan Porteous, and Liam Cooper might start on the left side of a back three with Andrew Robertson at left center-back and Greg Taylor at left wing-back if Robertson starts at left center-back. Although Jacob Brown and Lawrence Shankland, two forwards who have recently returned to the senior team, are expected to start up front, John McGinn and Scott McTominay, who has six goals in just five Euro 2024 qualifying matches, are expected to support them in advanced midfield positions.
Spain 2-1 Scotland
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