CALLUM McGREGOR and Co will be backing Spain against Norway in the crucial Euro 24 Group A qualifier in Oslo this evening.
A win or a draw for the visitors will seal a place for Scotland in next summer’s soccer extravaganza in Germany.
The Celtic captain and Hoops team-mate Greg Taylor, who could face World Cup runners-up France in the friendly in Lille on Tuesday night, will almost certainly be included in Steve Clarke’s squad for the showpiece event which is due to kick off with the hosts in action in Munich on June 14 2024.
MAC THE KNIFE…Callum McGregor slices open the Croatia defence as he nets Scotland’s equaliser at Hampden in June 2021.
The likes of Anthony Ralston, David Turnbull, Stephen Welsh and James Forrest could also be in the frame by the time the Finals come around in eight months’ time.
If Erling Haaland and his colleagues fail to overcome their Spanish opponents this evening, the Scots will have secured qualification for a major finals for only the second time since the World Cup in France in 1998.
They also played in the Covid-delayed Euro Finals in June 2021 when they lost twice at Hampden – 2-0 to the Czech Republic and 3-1 to Croatia – and drew 0-0 with England at Wembley.
ROARING SUCCESS…Callum McGregor celebrates his leveller against Croatia, but, unfortunately, the visitors fought back to win 3-1 in the Euro Finals group encounter at Hampden.
McGregor threw his country a lifeline with an equaliser against the Croatians – with future Celtic Josip Juranovic in the team – but an inspired second-half performance from Luka Modric sent the Scots toppling to defeat.
Clarke, meanwhile, is still considering calling up a late replacement for skipper Andy Robertson, who was forced off before half-time in Thursday’s 2-0 loss to Spain in Seville.
The Liverpool full-back left the field with a dislocated shoulder following a collision with keeper Unai Simon.
Hoops’ in-form defender Taylor is on stand-by.
