Spain beat Norway to reach Euro 2024 with Scotland

Spain were on top throughout and thought they had taken the lead after 20 minutes when Stefan Strandberg diverted the ball towards his own net and Morata greedily hammered home from almost on the goal line.

However the strike was ruled out for offside against Morata - Carvajal's lofted ball forward was aimed at Fati before Strandberg's intervention and if he had left the ball it would have been an own goal.

Gavi eventually fired Spain ahead in the 49th minute after a hectic scramble in Norway's area, pouncing when Mikel Oyarzabal's shot was deflected into his path.

After VAR finally ruled Gavi's strike valid the 19-year-old Barcelona midfielder was able to celebrate his fifth goal for his country in 25 appearances.

Arsenal playmaker Martin Odegaard sliced an effort wide at the other end as the hosts made a rare foray forward, and Spain goalkeeper Unai Simon saved comfortably from bright teenager Antonio Nusa.

 

October 16, 2023

Morata had a shot cleared off the line in the final stages but was offside anyway as Spain sought a second goal to clinch progress.

It did not come but it did not matter, as a flat Norway could not muster danger during eight minutes of added time, apparently resigned to their fate, while Spain broke into celebrations at the final whistle.

De la Fuente's side started their qualifying campaign with an early defeat by Scotland which called the coach's surprise appointment into question, but Nations League victory in June and straightforward qualification for the Euros since have convinced.

"It's one of the matches in which we've been most satisfied in general terms ... the team had great maturity. Today I was calmer because I saw the team was very sure of itself," De la Fuente told a news conference.

The coach said the result was what Spanish football needed after a tumultuous period, in which federation president Luis Rubiales resigned over his forcible kiss on the lips of Women's World Cup winner Jenni Hermoso.

"This is good for everyone, so that we think more about football. It sparks hope, it sparks joy, Spanish football is always in the elite and now we'll get our fans excited again," added the coach.

 

October 15, 2023