Scotland has initially missed early qualification for the European Football Championship next summer in Germany.
Coach Steve Clarke’s team lost 0-2 (0-0) in Spain, but despite their first defeat they lead Group A with 15 points. Spain follows with three points less. Alvaro Morata (73rd minute) and Oihan Sancet (86th) scored the goals.
Norway follows the leading duo with ten points. In Cyprus, superstar Erling Haaland (65th minute/72nd), ex-Leipzig player Alexander Sørloth (33rd) and Fredrik Aursnes (81st) ensured a confident 4-0 (1-0) victory. Norway meets Spain on Sunday (8:45 p.m.) in Oslo. If the Iberians win, both Scotland and the three-time European Championship champions will be there in Germany in 2024.
Türkiye surprised
Turkey won 1-0 (1-0) against third-placed Croatia in the first game without coach Stefan Kuntz, who was on leave, and is leading Group D. On the debut of Kuntz’s successor Vincenzo Montella, Baris Yilmaz (30th) scored the winning goal. Croatia is second.
Albania has a good chance of qualifying for the European Championship finals for the second time since 2016 in Group E. In the top game of Group E, Brazilian coach Sylvinho’s team won surprisingly clearly against the Czech Republic 3-0 (1-0) and is at the top with 13 points. Without the injured striker Robert Lewandowski, Poland jumped into second place after a 2-0 (1-0) win over the Faroe Islands.
