Ewan Murray was at Hampden Park to report on the action.
What does it all mean?
Two more nights of qualifiers to come but:
Via ESPN’s Dale Johnson: “Qualified automatically: Belgium, France, Portugal, Spain, Scotland, Turkey, Austria, England, Hungary, Slovakia, Albania, Denmark, Netherlands, Romania, Switzerland, Serbia.”
That leaves four automatic places still to be won across the final round.
There are three playoff paths through the UEFA Nations League - A, B and C.
From tonight’s Group A conclusion
Georgia are guaranteed to take part in the UEFA Nations League C playoff path.
Cyprus and Norway have been eliminated.
From tonight’s Group J conclusion:
Luxembourg will be in the UEFA Nations League C playoffs.
Iceland have a chance of a place in the UEFA Nations League B playoff path.
Bosnia and Herzegovina will take part in the UEFA Nations League B path.
Final Group J standings
P W D L F A Pts GD
Portugal 10 10 0 0 36 2 30 34
Slovakia 10 7 1 2 17 8 22 9
Luxembourg 10 5 2 3 13 19 17 -6
Iceland 10 3 1 6 17 16 10 1
Bosnia-Herzegovina 10 3 0 7 9 20 9 -11
Liechtenstein 10 0 0 10 1 28 0 -27
Fairly incredible performance from Portugal and Luxembourg fought a fine campaign, too.
Scotland captain John McGinn spoke to Viaplay: “The main thing is we’re going to Germany. There was a lot said about Erling Haaland and Martin Odegaard missing, but we had a lot missing tonight too.
“Qualifying the last time was incredible. This time has been strange. It’s not like us to qualify early.”
Final Group A standings
P W D L F A Pts
Spain 8 7 0 1 25 5 21
Scotland 8 5 2 1 17 8 17
Norway 8 3 2 3 14 12 11
Georgia 8 2 2 4 12 18 8
Cyprus 8 0 0 8 3 28 0
Final score: Liechtenstein 0-1 Luxembourg
Final score: Spain 3-1 Georgia
Final score: Portugal 2-0 Iceland
Final score: Bosnia-Herzegovia 1-2 Slovakia
Final score: Scotland 3-3 Norway
An entertaining old stramash and that’s the end of it. Steve Clarke’s men already had the job done, and they didn’t manage to top the group or claim a top-seed place but still, they were able to let their hair down. Just 200 days until the finals now in Germany and Scotland will be there.
Scotland 3-3 Norway: A Sander Berge fouls means the Scots can get the ball launched into the opposing area. Nothing doing, and the clock ticks on towards a draw. This would be only the third draw at Hampden in 19; they’ve won 15. A fortress.
Scotland 3-3 Norway: Five minutes added on at Hampden Park.
Gavi suffers serious knee injury?
One of the game’s great talents looks to have suffered an untimely injury. Think I am correct in saying it was a surprise he started against Georgia.
🚨🇪🇸 Initial tests completed by Spanish national team showing a “major knee injury” for Pablo Gavi.
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) November 19, 2023
More tests will follow in the next 24h to clarify his conditions…
…while Ferrán Torres dedicates his goal to Gavi. pic.twitter.com/oDwAhuCypx
Spain v Georgia:
— Jonas Adnan Giæver (@CheGiaevara) November 19, 2023
Minute 20-23: Gavi seems to suffer a knee injury, tries to get back onto the pitch, but injures it again(?). Is subbed off.
Minute 55: Ferran Torres scores, celebrates by holding up Gavi's shirt.
I assume they have gotten some bad news from the medics pic.twitter.com/nunn9f3wmX
Goal! Scotland 3-3 Norway (Elyououssi, 87)
It had been coming, in truth, and it came down the left-hand side of the Scottish team, a beaut of a cross from Ryerson and the former Southampton man, Zander Clark out of the picture nods in.
Updated
Scotland 3-2 Norway: Gerry Scott gets in touch: “Simon McMahon is entirely correct on the subject of Flower of Scotland. I suggest Lloyd I’m Ready to be Heartbroken by Camera Obscura as the replacement.”
Pat Nevin likes this.
Simon McMahon is back: “Chris McMillan is right, though that particular anthem was indelibly linked to the whole Euro 20/21 experience, even if it has endured beyond. What next years anthem, official or unofficial, will be I’m not sure. Though it won’t be better than this.
Scotland 3-2 Norway: Good save by Clark from a Thorsvedt header. Norway have really come at them since those subs. Zander Clark did very well to make the save.
Scotland 3-2 Norway: Worry for Villa fans as John McGinn goes down. He looks in some pain. A knee problem? He’s limping but as Ryan Jack is brought on for him he jogs off looking a bit happier with life. What a campaign he’s had.
Goal! Spain 3-1 Georgia (Lochoshvili, OG 72): Another own-goal! Spain look to have the group wrapped up.
Scotland 3-2 Norway: Steve Clarke has made a three-man switch from the bench. On: Lyndon Dykes, Lewis Ferguson and Ryan Christie all come on for Kenny McLean, Jacob Brown and Stuart Armstrong.
Goal! Liechtenstein 0-1 Luxembourg (Gerson Rodrigues, 70) In this case, the ten men take the lead.
Goal! Bosnia-Herzegovian 1-2 Slovakia (Satka, 71) The ten men drop behind.
Scotland 3-2 Norway: Chris McMillan gets in touch. “Re, McMahon and Flower of Scotland being a dirge - is the the national anthem not, “Yes, sir, I can boogie” these days anyway?”
Goal! Portugal 2-0 Iceland (Horta, 66) Looks like Portuguese Bob is going to wrap up a 100% record from qualifying. Competing with England to be Europe’s second best team after France?
Eanna gets in touch on young-trad anthems: “Zombie by Cranberries - 1994 Anthem of Munster, Ireland and er... South Africa rugby since the RWC.”
Red card! Bosnia-Herzegovina’s Renato Gojkovic has been red-carded against Slovakia.
Goal! Spain 2-1 Georgia (Ferran Torres, 55) Looks like Spain will top the group and claim a Pot One place after the Barcelona striker headed a Gaya cross in.
Scotland 3-2 Norway: There was a lengthy VAR check of what a was a perfectly decentr and very good goal. Norway had time to make two subs as the refs dithered. Aursnes and Donnum went off, and Elyonoussi and Kristian Thorsvedt come on. And, yes, he’s the son of Erik Thorsvedt, the Spurs legend.
Goal! Scotland 3-2 Norway (Armstrong, 59)
Ya beauty. Great ball in from Patterson, Armstrong keeps the ball in play, and then McGinn plays a reverse ball with Armstrong who picks out his spot, and sends it back where the goalie was going.
Scotland 2-2 Norway: Oscar Bobb is some player, and looks another fine young Norwegian. He’s also at Manchester City so will we ever get to see him given a proper run?
Kári Tulinius gets in touch: “Portugal just went one up through a good goal by Bruno Fernandez, but as an Icelander I’m finding it hard to care about this game, because due to the magic of modern qualifying, Iceland’s chances of making the playoffs for the Euros entirely depend on Moldavia not beating the Czechs tomorrow on the banks of the Morava, in a completely different group.”
Feels like Monday and Tuesday will be big nights out for the co-efficient crew.
Goal! Bosnia-Herzegovina 1-1 Slovakia (Bozenik, 52). Slovakia hit back, their forward, who plays for Boavista, on the mark.
Updated
Goal! Bosnia-Herzegovina 1-0 Slovakia (Hrosovsky, 48 OG) Feels like a big night for the OG. Bosnia looking to improve their credentials but….
Some Simon McMahon, our Caledonian correspondent: “Evening John. It’s surely a sign of the progress made by Scotland under Steve Clarke that I totally forgot about this game until a few moments ago, by which point Scotland were already 2-1 down. Normally I’d have been on tenterhooks, last game of the qualifying campaign, Scotland probably needing a win, and maybe a favour from elsewhere, to just secure a play off place, if we weren’t out already. So to have qualified with two games to spare is, to put it mildly, unusual. As of course would be getting out of the group in Germany next June…”
More McMahon: “Scotland needs a new national anthem. Flower of Scotland is a dirge. And more suited to rugby. I suspect one might come with independence, though that seems a distant dream at the moment. Maybe if we win the Euros…”
Yet more: “Shaun Tooze, thank you, and no need to apologise. You’re welcome here anytime, like everyone else. Even Rishi and David.”
Scotland 2-2 Norway: Uh oh, Scott McTominay is hobbling. Bad news for Erik ten Hag and Sir Big Jim Ratcliffe.
Qualifying latest from the earlier games on Sunday.
And from Saturday, too.
Back underway we go…
Euro 2024 qualifying half-time scores
Bosnia-Herzegovina 0-0 Slovakia
Scotland 2-2 Norway
Spain 1-1 Georgia
Portugal 1-0 Iceland
Liechtenstein 0-0 Luxembourg
Scotland 2-2 Norway: Stuart Armstrong fizzes down the left and then smashes a shot wide of the far post. That concludes the half in Glasgow.
Scotland 2-2 Norway: Nathan Patterson slides across to stop what looked a goalbound shot from Donnum after Bobb had created more havoc down the left.
Goal! Portugal 1-0 Iceland (Bruno Fernandes, 37). The assist comes from Bernardo Silva, a goal made in Manchester, though it’s a brilliant strike from Bruno.
Updated
Goal! Scotland 2-2 Norway (Østigård OG 33)
McTominay’s corner is a belter and Kenny McLean edges towards it, only for Østigård to nudge the ball beyond his own keeper. It’s been a show of some desperate defending.
Updated
All the goal action is coming in Scotland’s Group A. It’s goalless in Group J.
Scotland 1-2 Norway: The Norwegians are providing a real threat down the left-hand side of the Scottish defence. Both goals came from that side.
Goal! Scotland 1-2 Norway (Strand Larsen, 21)
The ball spins off Callum McGregor, Jack Hendy caught out and Strand Larsen knocks in at the far post from Ryerson’s good work. That was Scottish defending from a previous generation.
Updated
Scotland 1-1 Norway: Big noise in Glasgow. Ajer has been booked for Norway, who really should be doing better than they are. Let Scotland and Steve Clarke be a lesson. OK, no Haaland and Odegaard tonight but that’s no excuse for the rest of the campaign.
Goal! Scotland 1-1 Norway (McGinn 13 pen)
He’s so calm but he’s full of venom, too. Donnum clearly handled the ball. Norway have blown the lead they took. The last time they qualified for a tournament was Euro 2000.
Updated
Penalty to Scotland!
John McGinn will take after a handball in the Norway area.
Goal! Spain 1-1 Georgia (Kvaratskhelia, 10) One of the best players in Europe just grabbed the equaliser.
Red card for Luxembourg’s Daniel Sinani against Liechtenstein. That’s unhelpful.
Goal! Spain 1-0 Georgia (Le Normand, 7)
It’s from a Ferran Torres corner, and the Real Sociedad defender heads home.
Goal! Scotland 0-1 Norway (Donnum, 4)
The deflection came off Nathan Patterson and it followed terrible defending, but a nice finish by Donnum.
Updated
Scotland 0-0 Norway: At Hampden, John McGinn almost gets Jacob Brown away with his pass.
And away we go across Europe...
So, not much to play for beyond seedings and the like but some reputations can be made nonetheless.
In Glasgow, there’s a rousing rendition of Flower of Scotland, bagpipes and all.
That traditional anthem written in…er, 1967.
Mind, Fields of Athenry was from 1969. Aside from Freed From Desire, what’s the youngest traditional song?
Here, from my old mate Dale Johnson are the permutations for the day.
Confirmed for Euro 2024 this afternoon:
— Dale Johnson (@DaleJohnsonESPN) November 19, 2023
🇷🇸 Serbia have qualified and will be in draw Pot 3 or 4
🇺🇦 Ukraine are guaranteed a playoff (path TBC)
🇲🇪 Montenegro have been eliminated
Four automatic qualifiers to go, no one else can qualify today. But there will be pot action.
What's at stake in the next games? Not much.
— Dale Johnson (@DaleJohnsonESPN) November 19, 2023
🇧🇪 Belgium must win to top Group F, which would seal a place in Pot 1. Draw/lose Pot 2 or 3.
🇦🇹 Belgium win puts Austria in Pot 2 UNLESS 🏴 Scotland beat Norway by 2+ goals, then Pot 3. Belgium draw/lose, Austria very likely Pot 1.
After Belgium won Group F...
— Dale Johnson (@DaleJohnsonESPN) November 19, 2023
Pot 1 in the Euro 2024 draw
🇩🇪 Germany
🇵🇹 Portugal
🇫🇷 France
🇧🇪 Belgium
??
??
The last two places should go to England and Spain.
🇦🇹 Austria will take the last place in Pot 2 unless Scotland beat Norway by 2+ goals.
Shaun Tooze gets in touch, offering his hands across the border: “Some of us down here have nothing but hope and respect for the mad skirt-wearing b*****s from the north, so it just occurred to me how lovely it must be for the good folks up there tonight to be going into this game already safe and on the plane to another major tournament. It’s a beautiful thing I reckon.
“Like buses aren’t they, major tournaments. Good luck tonight, and next summer as well. From right next door, Cumbria. (And sorry about the ‘government’)“
From those earlier results, Serbia have joined the finalists.
🇷🇸 Serbia will play at EURO 2024!
— Football Rankings (@FootRankings) November 19, 2023
Home draw against Bulgaria was enough for Serbia to qualify to EURO for the first time since 2000.
Serbia will probably be placed in Pot 4.
Due to this, Ukraine secured spot in the Play-offs, so they will enter them if they don't defeat Italy. pic.twitter.com/6XX9NcudKh
At Hampden, the bagpipe guitars of Big Country can be heard. It’s a night of celebration at Scotland Fitba HQ.
For Scotland: Jacob Brown makes his first start. The Luton striker is handed his eighth cap as Clarke made four changes following Thursday’s 2-2 draw with Georgia. Jack Hendry, Stuart Armstrong and Kenny McLean also came in as Ryan Porteous, Billy Gilmour, Ryan Christie and Lyndon Dykes dropped to the bench.
Some earlier scores:
Hungary 3-1 Montenegro
Serbia 2-2 Bulgaria
Belgium 5-0 Azerbaijan
Sweden 2-0 Estonia
Scotland v Norway teams: no Haaland
Scotland: Clark, Patterson, Hendry, McKenna, Taylor, McTominay, McGregor, Armstrong, McGinn, McLean, Brown. Subs: Cooper, Doig, Dykes, Ralston, Gilmour, Ferguson, Porteous, Shankland, McCrorie, Christie, Jack, Kelly.
Norway: Selvik, Ryerson, Ajer, Ostigard, Bjorkan, Berge, Berg, Aursnes, Bobb, Larsen, Donnum. Subs: Ola Solbakken, Myhra, Thorstvedt, Finne, Dyngeland, Gregersen, Wolfe, Strandberg, Pedersen, Vetlesen, Elyounoussi.
Preamble
A look ahead to the evening kick-offs across the continent and qualifying groups.
Group A: Can Scotland top their group? The lack of Erling Haaland for Scotland v Norway suggests they can do just that. What a victory lap that would be for Steve Clarke, having already qualified. Perhaps his team might bear the scars of a bruising, no-love-lost encounter with Georgia.
Group A: Spain v Georgia: Spain are also looking to top the group. A draw will probably do it for them, even if this will be an underpowered Spain team.
Group J: Perfect Portugal v Iceland. Can Roberto Martinez’s team complete their campaign with a 100% record? It seems likely. Was all that attacking talent wasted during the Fernando Santos years? Seems likely.
Group J: Bosnia-Herzegovina v Slovakia: Slovakia are qualified, while Bosnia are looking to the back-door route to qualification.
Group J: Liechtenstein v Luxembourg: The visitors have missed out on automatic qualification and must look to the repechage competition.
