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Daily Record
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Mark Walker & Robbie Copeland

Scotland's Euro 2024 opponents profiled as superpower Spain and Erling Haaland provide daunting path to Germany

After a successful international break, Scotland are flying again and there's a tinge of disappointment around the nation that we need to wait until March to see Steve Clarke's team back in action.

But Sunday's draw for Euro 2024 qualifying gave us plenty to look forward to. Spain, Norway, Georgia and Cyprus stand between the Scots and the tournament in Germany in two years' time, and while the Nations League has been kind to us again, we're all hoping we don't need that playoff. It's nice to have, though, as this group ain't easy.

Spain, while not the same team who won three tournaments back-to-back between 2012 and 2016, are not to be messed with, while Norway have Erling Haaland and the freakish amount of goals that come with him. And remember Georgia? We'll get to that, not that we particularly want to...

Record Sport have taken a look at our qualifying opponents and here is everything you need to know.

Spain

First game : 1913

Manager : Luis Enrique. The former Barcelona and Roma manager has been in charge of his country for four years.

Star man : Sergio Busquets. The Barcelona star has an incredible 139 caps for his country and the 34-year-old is the captain of his nation.

Record against Scotland : W6 D4 L3

Interesting fact : Scotland once battered Spain 6-2 in the Bernabeu with six different scorers back in 1963. Rumour has it Steve Clarke would take the same again

Norway

First game : 1908

Manager : Stale Solbakken. The former Wolves and FC Copenhagen boss took charge of Norway two years ago after Lars Lagerback quit.

Star man : Not much doubt about this one. Erling Haaland. Manchester City's goalscoring phenomenon has 20 goals in just 13 games this season (yes those numbers are the right way round). He's also managed to net 21 goals in 23 appearances for his country on top of his freakish club record.

Record against Scotland : W3 D6 L9

Interesting fact : Scotland's first game on European soil was in Norway in 1929 when we hammered Norway 7-3 in Brann.

Georgia

First game : 1990

Manager : Willy Sagnol. The former Bayern Munich stalwart and Bordeaux manager moved to the former Soviet nation last year and has gone undefeated in his last 11 games - winning nine of them. This group is a significant step up from who they've faced over that run - but they did beat Sweden 2-0 back in November.

Star man : Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, remember the name (if you can). The Napoli starlet has been tipped to have a huge future and has already scored ten goals for his country at the age of 21.

Kvaratskhelia in action for Georgia (REUTERS)

Record against Scotland : W2 D 0 L2

Interesting fact : TRIGGER WARNING : Scotland have twice suffered disastrous defeats in Tbilisi which went a large way to costing us qualification for Euro 2008 and Euro 2016.

Cyprus

First game : 1949

Manager : Temur Ketsbaia won't be unfamiliar with Scottish soil as a former Dundee midfielder. He was also in charge of his own countrymen and group rivals Georgia previously.

Star man : Pieros Sotiriou. The Japanese-based striker is the top scorer in the squad and was previously a prolific scorer with FC Copenhagen.

Record against Scotland : W0 D0 L7

Interesting fact : Scotland boast a 100 per cent record against the Cypriots and put eight goals past them in their first visit to Hampden in 1969, with Colin Stein netting four. John McGinn, step on up.

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