Gavi slots Spain in!

Spain’s Gavi celebrates scoring the opening goal against Norway at the Ullevaal Stadium in Oslo on Sunday. Pic/AFP

Spain booked their place at Euro 2024 with a 1-0 win over Norway on Sunday, also enabling Scotland to qualify from Group A. Young midfielder Gavi fired home early in the second half to help the 2008 and 2012 European ch mpionship winners progress to the tournament in Germany next summer, with two games to spare.

Norway doubtful
Norway, who last appeared at a major tournament in Euro 2000, and their star striker Erling Haaland can now only potentially qualify through play-offs, but need to hold onto third and hope Serbia qualify from Group G to be eligible.

Also Read: WC Qualifier: Messi remains doubtful; Neymar in poor form

Luis De la Fuente

Spain barely allowed Haaland a sniff all night long on a frustrating night for Norway, who sit five points behind their opponents and Scotland, joint top, with only one match remaining. "From front to back we were really compact, we practically didn't let [Haaland] receive a single ball comfortably," Spain defender Dani Carvajal told TVE. "They barely created any chances against us, we're going home happy with a ticket for the Euros."

Gavi was made to wait for several minutes before finding out whether his goal counted or not, as VAR analysed it slowly. "I think today we were very good and in the end it bore fruit," said Gavi. "[They were checking the goal] I think for [Alvaro] Morata being offside, I don't know if he was, but in the end they gave it and I'm happy for that."

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.

Luis 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," De la Fuente told a news conference.

Wales stun Croatia
Meanwhile, Wales breathed new life into their chances of qualifying for Euro 2024 as Harry Wilson's double earned a famous 2-1 win over Croatia in Cardiff.

In another match, Turkey capped off a momentous week in which they were announced as co-hosts of Euro 2032 with Italy, by turning on the style in the closing minutes to beat Latvia 4-0 and book their place at the finals.

Romania eased to a 4-0 victory over Andorra to move a point clear, but the Swiss have a game in hand after Thursday's trip to Tel Aviv was postponed due to the war between Israel and Hamas.

In Plzen, Tomas Soucek's 76th-minute penalty earned the Czech Republic a narrow 1-0 win over the Faroe Islands, bumping his team up to second in Group E behind Albania.

Poland struggled in the absence of injured striker Robert Lewandowski and had to come from behind to salvage a 1-1 draw against Moldova in Warsaw. The Poles are third in the section but have played a game more than the top two.

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