Spain vs Scotland LIVE: Euro 2024 qualifier result after Scott McTominay goal controversially ruled out
Spain 2-0 Scotand: McTominay’s strike was disallowed with the Euro 2024 qualifier goalless, before Alvaro Morata and a Ryan Porteous own goal gave the hosts a controversial win
Scotland suffered their first Euro 2024 qualifying defeat with a 2-0 loss in Spain but qualification hopes remain alive.
The Scots had won their first five Group A qualifiers including a 2-0 win over the Spanish at Hampden Park in March and needed to take something from the return game in Seville or Norway fail to beat Cyprus, to qualify on the night.
In a stifling warm evening, the Scots survived some heavy first-half pressure to go in at the break goalless before Scott McTominay, who scored both goals against Spain in Glasgow, fired in a wonderful free-kick in the 59th minute only to see it ruled out after a VAR check for a Jack Hendry infringement.
Alvaro Morata headed in after 73 minutes and substitute Oihan Sancet and Scotland defender Ryan Porteous clashed together for the second in the 86th minute and with Norway beating Cyprus, Steve Clarke’s men move on to the second October fixture.
Follow all the action as Spain host Scotland in the Euro 2024 qualifiers plus get all the latest odds and tips right here:
Scotland forced to wait for Euro 2024 — but they will not understand how
Spain have their revenge and Rodri has his retribution. Now, though, it is Scotland who have reason to fume - and Steve Clarke’s side surely will over the coming days as the waiting begins. Qualification for Euro 2024 could yet be secured on Sunday, should Spain defeat Norway in Oslo. Thanks to Scotland’s perfect start to Group A, they may yet avoid a nervy November. But, if it was not for the finest of margins on a night of major controversy, they may not have needed to rely on favours from elsewhere.
There is no shame in losing to Spain but Scotland will not quite believe how this unfolded. As expected, Spain were dominant and Scotland had to survive waves of pressure. The visitors would have had no complaints had Luis de la Fuente’s improved side taken a deserved lead but Scotland went into half-time with the match goalless and their plan very much alive. Scotland only needed a chance to turn their rearguard approach into a perfect one and Scott McTominay looked to have found it with a moment of magic.
Scotland will feel the decision to disallow his opening goal for a foul on the Spain goalkeeper Unai Simon was not the only one that went against them in Seville.
Spain 2-0 Scotland report
Scotland forced to wait for Euro 2024 — but they will not understand how
Spain 2-0 Scotland: Scott McTominay’s disallowed goal was the moment the night turned as Steve Clarke’s side saw their perfect record in qualifying come to an end in Seville
John McGinn claims Scotland beating Spain made ‘impossible’ after VAR controversy
John McGinn said the “big moments went against Scotland” and made victory in Spain “near enough impossible” as Steve Clarke’s side missed out on the chance to secure early qualification for Euro 2024 following a controversial 2-0 defeat in Seville.
Scotland needed a point against Spain to book their place at the Euros next summer and, although they had to survive spells of pressure against the hosts, thought they had made the breakthrough when Scott McTominay scored a sublime free-kick on 59 minutes.
But McTominay’s goal was disallowed by referee Serdar Gozubuyuk after a VAR check, with the initial explanation being that Scotland defender Jack Hendry had infringed on Spain goalkeeper Unai Simon. However, McGinn said the Dutch official then clarified that Hendry was offside and was interfering with play.
John McGinn claims Scotland beating Spain made ‘impossible’ after VAR controversy
Scott McTominay’s opening goal was disallowed by VAR as Spain went on to win 2-0 in Seville
Steve Clarke insists Scotland must move on from disappointing VAR decision
Steve Clarke insists Scotland simply have to move on after Scott McTominay had a goal chalked off after a VAR check before losing 2-0 to Spain in Seville.
The Scots had won their first five Group A qualifiers including a 2-0 win over the Spanish at Hampden Park in March, and they thought they had taken the lead when McTominay, who scored twice in Glasgow, fired in a wonderful free-kick in the 59th minute only to see it ruled out after a VAR check for a Jack Hendry infringement.
Alvaro Morata headed in after 73 minutes and substitute Oihan Sancet, making his debut, added a second in the 86th minute to leave Group A leaders Scotland three points ahead of Spain having played a game more.
Clarke’s men face France in a friendly in Lille next Tuesday but Spain face Norway in Oslo two days earlier and if the Norwegians drop points, Scotland’s place in Germany will be secured while the Scots also have Georgia away and Norway at home in November.
Steve Clarke insists Scotland must move on from disappointing VAR decision
Alvaro Morata headed in after 73 minutes and substitute Oihan Sancet added a second.
Scotland provide update after Andy Robertson appears to dislocate shoulder
Scotland captain Andy Robertson will return to Liverpool to have a scan after suffering a shoulder injury in the 2-0 defeat to Spain in Seville.
Robertson was forced off late in the first half of the Euro 2024 qualifier following a challenge from the Spain goalkeeper Unai Simon.
The left back appeared to have suffered a dislocation and left the pitch with his arm wrapped in his shirt, which he was using as a makeshift sling.
Scotland went on to lose their first match of their Euro 2024 qualifying campaign, following Scott McTominay’s controversially disallowed goal.
It means Scotland could be forced to go to Georgia in November needing a result, unless Norway fail to beat Spain in Oslo on Sunday.
Robertson could be missing for the fixture but the more immediate concern is upcoming games for Liverpool, with the Merseyside derby against Everton a week on Saturday on October 21.
Scotland provide update after Andy Robertson appears to dislocate shoulder
The Liverpool left back was challenged by Spain goalkeeper Unai Simon in the Euro 2024 qualifying defeat
What do Scotland need to qualify for Euro 2024?
Scotland suffered their first Euro 2024 qualifying defeat with a loss in Spain but qualification hopes remain alive.
The Scots had won their first five Group A qualifiers including a 2-0 win over the Spanish at Hampden Park in March and needed to take something from the return game in Seville to qualify on the night, or for Norway to fail to beat Cyprus.
But as Spain controversially won 2-0, Scotland were made to wait. Norway cruised past Cyprus with a 4-0 win, thanks to two goals from Erling Haaland.
It means Scotland lead the group with 15 points from their six games having endured defeat for the first time in the campaign, while Spain have 12 points from five matches and Norway 10 from six.
Attention now turns to Sunday: simply, Scotland will qualify for Euro 2024 if Norway fail to win at home to Spain in Oslo.
What do Scotland need to qualify for Euro 2024?
Here’s how Scotland can become the first team to join Germany at Euro 2024
FULL TIME! Spain 2-0 Scotland
John McGinn, speaking to ViaPlay: “the big moments went against us. We can still improve, but we put in some shift. We knew at least a point tonight would get us there, so that’s a really tough one to take. It’s a sore blow losing Robbo early, then thinking we’re ahead, we regroup and then they score.
“We competed for long spells. It’s very difficult to win here and, under the circumstances, it was near enough impossible.
“You need to be very careful what you say. I think everyone watching that game tonight from a Scotland point of view, wherever you were, it just felt like we weren’t getting any 50/50 decision - it made it very difficult against a world class team.
“You need a perfect performance here to win, and everything to align and it was just never going to happen.
“He (the referee) changed it (his reasoning on the VAR check) in the game, which is the annoying thing. It means it’s not clear and obvious.
“Is he going to save it? No chance. No goalkeeper in the world is going to save that. However, at one point he’s said it’s a foul, realises it isn’t a foul, so changes it to offside.”
FULL TIME! Spain 2-0 Scotland
Strong words from John McGinn:
“It’s a tough one to take. The decisions went against us.
“This is a tough place to win but under the circumstances tonight it felt impossible.”
FULL TIME! Spain 2-0 Scotland
Here’s the moment Spain finally broke through. It was a moment of class from the 37-year-old Jesus Navas, and the slightest touch from Alvaro Morata.
FULL TIME! Spain 2-0 Scotland
Nope, this was not Scotland’s night, but it will go down as a hugely controversial one.
Still, with Norway also winning, Scotland will now have to hope Spain defeat Norway on Sunday.
A place at Euro 2024 could still be days away, but it will not be tonight.
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