Izuchukwu Okosi
Euro 2008 and 2012 champions Spain on Sunday evening booked their place at Euro 2024 with a win in Norway and two games to spare in the qualification campaign also helping Scotland qualify from Group A.
Spain’s Euro qualification was in tatters when Scotland snatched an unlikely win when both nations met in September but La Roja turned things around in the latest international break with a 2-0 win against Scotland on Thursday.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelBarcelona midfielder Gavi put the Spaniards ahead early in the second half which now put Norway’s Euro 2024 hopes squarely on the playoffs.
The Norwegians whose last appearance at the tournament was in Euro 2020 must stay in third and hope Serbia qualifies from Group G to stand a chance.
Manchester City’s Erling Haaland barely had any fighting chance to score on the night while Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard had a good chance to score but fired his shot wide off target.
Spain thought they had taken the lead after 20 minutes when Stefan Strandberg diverted the ball towards his own net and Alvaro Morata hammered home from almost on the goal line.
The goal was ruled out for offside against a bewildered-looking Morata.
Dani Carvajal’s lofted ball forward was aimed at Brighton winger Ansu Fati before Strandberg’s intervention, and Morata had left the ball it would have been an own goal.
Gavi eventually fired Spain ahead in the 49th minute after a hectic scramble in Norway’s area, pouncing when Mikel Oyarzabal’s shot was deflected into his path.
It was the 19-year-old’s fifth goal for his country in 25 appearances.
A flat Norway could not muster chances during eight minutes of added time, apparently resigned to their fate, while Spain broke into celebrations at the final whistle.
Spain’s win was also celebrated by Scotland who benefitted from the outcome of the game.
Izuchukwu Okosi is a Nigerian sports and entertainment journalist with two decades of experience in the media industry having begun his media journey in 2002 as an intern at Mundial Sports International (MSI) and Africa Independent Television (AIT), owners of Daar Communications Plc.
