‘More to come’ as John McGinn eyes momentous point

Scotland have “plenty more to come” says John McGinn as the national team stands on the brink of qualifying for Euro 2024.

Steve Clarke’s side top Group A with five wins form five, and need a point in Spain on Thursday, or for Norway to slip up in Cyprus, to clinch a spot.

Their latest shot at a major tournament comes after reaching Euro 2020.

“It’s a really exciting time to be a Scotland player,” said McGinn.

“We’re all at a good age. We’re getting more and more experience of these games. The great thing for us is there’s a couple of great young players bubbling away in the background that could come and improve us.

“The fans are here regardless of the results, but we’re now giving them some success which we’re enjoying. Hopefully we can carry that on.”

Scotland are in a position of strength in Group A. Even a defeat in Seville and a Norway win in Cyprus, Clarke’s team know just one point for them, or one dropped by Norway, before the end of the campaign would be enough to land consecutive European Championships.

Setting aside the disappoint of the World Cup play-off loss to Ukraine last year, their ability to carve out big results has been a key characteristic of not just Clarke’s overall tenure, but especially in this campaign.

While coming back to overcome Norway in Oslo will be seen as a pivotal moment in this campaign if Scotland can get over the line, roaring to a 2-0 victory over Spain in Glasgow back in March was the catalyst for launching Scotland’s qualification bid skyward.

On that night, Rodri was less than complimentary about Scotland’s style of play, with manager Clarke claiming on Wednesday he couldn’t remember what was said.

Also choosing to be diplomatic, McGinn said of the Manchester City treble winner: “It doesn’t matter anymore. I’ve probably lost count of the amount of trophies he’s won since that game.

“There’s not much we can say to him. He’ll have said things in the heat of the moment, but it’s gone now.”

McGinn added: “We need to be better [than win over Spain]. We’re away from home, a team is stronger at home. It wasn’t as hot in Glasgow in March.

“We need to be aggressive, it’s in our nature as a country. Hard working, determined, we’ll fight for every ball. We probably didn’t do that against England which is why we ended up with a comfortable defeat.

“We need to get the balance right. We need to be physical and aggressive, but we’ve got some great players as well.”

Team news

Scotland go into this one without Kieran Tierney, who is set for a prolonged spell out after being injured playing for Real Sociedad last month. Striker Kevin Nisbet also pulled out the squad on Wednesday morning following Ryan Jack withdrawing.

Spain have a full squad to pick from, although the hosts are carrying some knocks, with Rodri taking part in some training on Wednesday missing Manchester City’s defeat by Arsenal at the weekend.

What shape are Spain in?

Liam McCleod, BBC Sport Scotland in Spain

If Clarke’s side can repeat March’s seismic success, it would go down as arguably their greatest victory, particularly when you consider the prize on offer.

However, Spain have undoubtedly improved from March and their squad for this game is stronger than it was then, although Barcelona prospect Lamine Yamal has withdrawn with injury having become Spain’s youngest-ever scorer in Tbilisi.

Pedro Porro has starred in the Premier League with Tottenham Hotspur this season, but hasn’t been included, with veterans Dani Carvajal and Jesus Navas preferred at right-back since Hampden.

What they said

Scotland manager Steve Clarke: “I think when we played them in March they were probably a little bit in transition between the previous coach and new coach.

“They had a disappointing World Cup campaign so we maybe got them at a good time in March. We know we have to be very good to get a positive result tomorrow night.”

Spain manager Luis de la Fuente: “This is not a revenge mission, it’s just a football game. It will be a very hard game, a tough game against a top-level team.

“Every team has improved, for sure we are meeting a better Scotland because they have great players.”

Match stats

• Spain have only lost one of their eight home matches against Scotland in all competitions (W4 D3), losing 6-2 against them in a friendly in June 1963. This is their first meeting with Scotland on home soil since October 2011, a 3-1 win in a European Championship qualifier.

• Following their 2-0 win over Spain in March, Scotland are looking to record consecutive victories against them for the first time.

• In qualifying for major tournaments (World Cup/Euros), Spain have only lost home and away against a side in the group stages once before, losing twice to France in Euro 1992 qualifying.

• Scotland have won 15 of their last 18 competitive international matches (D1 L2), including their last five in a row, all in Euro 2024 qualifiers. Since September 2021, only Portugal (17), the Netherlands (16) and France (16) have won more competitive matches among European nations.

• Spain have won their last 24 home European Championship qualifiers, a run that stretches back to September 2003 and is the longest ever home winning run in Euro qualifying history. The last side to beat them on home soil were Greece in June 2003, who would later win the following European Championship tournament in 2004.

• Scotland have won their last 11 group stage matches in qualifying for major tournaments, the longest ongoing run of any European nation. They haven’t won six group stage matches in a European Championship qualifying campaign since their Euro 2008 qualifying group (8).

• Excluding own goals, only Portugal (11) have had more different scorers in qualifying for Euro 2024 than Spain (9), with Álvaro Morata and Joselu joint top scorers for the Spaniards with three goals each.

• Only Belgium’s Romelu Lukaku (8) has more goals in Euro 2024 qualifying than Scotland’s Scott McTominay (6). The only Scottish players to ever score more times in a qualifying campaign for a major tournament are Steven Fletcher (seven in Euro 2016 qualifying) and John McGinn (seven in Euro 2020 qualifying).