Euro 2024 qualifiers: Spain, Scotland, Turkey seal spots

Spain booked their place at Euro 2024 on Sunday after a 1-0 win away to Norway, also sending Scotland through from Group A and sealing Turkey their place for the biggest European football carnival scheduled for June 14 to July 14, 2024, in Germany.

Barcelona midfielder Gavi scored the only goal for La Roja in the second half in Oslo, bouncing a shot into the corner to help Spain qualify for next year’s finals in Germany with two games to spare. “We are very happy because the team has grown a lot and has a great future,” said Spain coach Luis de la Fuente. “We have worked to get to this moment.”

Spain moved top of Group A with 15 points and on goal difference, but the result ensured Scotland punched their ticket to the tournament as well, with Norway five points adrift going into their last match next month.

“When we qualified via the play-offs last time, we set ourselves a target of doing it automatically next time – so that’s the first mission accomplished,” said Scotland captain Andy Robertson.

Norway has not qualified for a major competition since Euro 2000, but a team featuring Erling Haaland and Martin Odegaard still hopes to advance to the play-offs.

Georgia thrashed Cyprus 4-0 in the other game in that group.

Turkey, co-hosts of Euro 2032 with Italy, also booked their place at the finals after thrashing 4-0 to sit at Group D with 16 points.

Yunus Akgun broke the deadlock just before the hour, and former Everton forward Cenk Tosun grabbed two late goals either side of a Kerem Akturkoglu strike to complete the victory for the Group D leaders.

“I am very happy that we confirmed (qualification) tonight with this win,” Turkey coach Vincenzo Montella told UEFA.com.

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“I am perhaps the happiest coach in the world right now. That’s why I’ll enjoy it first, and then we’ll continue our preparations immediately.”

Turkey sit six points clear of Wales, who leapfrogged Croatia into second as Harry Wilson got both goals in a 2-1 victory over last year’s World Cup semi-finalists in Cardiff.

Wilson outran the Croatia defence to loft in the opening goal shortly after half-time and then glanced in a Dan James cross for the second.

Mario Pasalic reduced the deficit but Wales now have control of their own destiny heading into the concluding rounds of qualifying games in November.

Croatia are at risk of missing a major tournament for the first time since the 2010 World Cup after back-to-back defeats.

Switzerland needed two late goals at home to Belarus to rescue a 3-3 draw but surrendered first place in Group I to Romania.

Xherdan Shaqiri curled the Swiss ahead in St Gallen before Belarus, beaten 5-0 by the same opponents in March, levelled through Max Ebong.

Denis Polyakov nodded Belarus in front at a corner, and the visitors looked on course for a shock win when Dmitri Antilevski struck a third in the 84th minute.

Manuel Akanji tapped in from a Shaqiri free-kick to spark the last-ditch comeback for the hosts as substitute Zeki Amdouni saved Switzerland’s blushes, scrambling in a 90th-minute equaliser.

Romania eased to a 4-0 victory over Andorra to move a point precise, the Swiss have a game in hand after Thursday’s trip to Tel Aviv was postponed due to the war between Israel and Hamas.

Sunday’s match between Kosovo and Israel was also called off because of the conflict.

Seven of the 24 nations have now qualified, with Germany qualifying automatically as the host nation, while France, Portugal and Belgium all gathered their places on Friday.