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Date: 2023-12-04 23:53:11 | Author: Online Sports | Views: 902 | Tag: promo
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Scotland have qualified for Euro 2024 with two games to spare after Spain defeated Norway in Oslo promo
Steve Clarke’s side are now assured of one of the two automatic qualification spots in Group A and will play at just their second men’s major international tournament since 1998 in Germany next summer promo
Norway had to beat Spain to keep their automatic qualification hopes alive, but Gavi’s second-half strike earned La Roja all three points promo
Spain are also now through, while Norway will have to advance via the play-offs if Erling Haaland and Martin Odegaard are to feature at next summer’s tournament promo
Scotland were faced with a nervous wait after they were beaten by Spain in highly controversial circumstances on Thursday night , missing out on the chance to confirm their place at Euro 2024 at what was their first opportunity promo
But an outstanding start to qualification, with five wins from their first five games, ensured Clarke’s side remained in a strong position to reach the tournament finals promo
RecommendedJohn McGinn claims Scotland beating Spain made ‘impossible’ after VAR controversyAndy Robertson injury: Scotland provide update on dislocated shoulder against SpainSpain’s victory in Oslo now means Scotland do not need to get anything out of their final two fixtures in November - away to Georgia and at home against Norway - in what could have been a tricky double header promo
They are now level on points with Spain in the race to finish as group winners, however, which could determine seeding when the Euro 2024 draw is in December promo
Scotland manager Clarke also guided the Tartan Army to the Euro 2020 finals, after a dramatic play-off victory against Serbia, and will be determined to build on the experience of what was Scotland’s first major tournament since the 1998 World Cup promo
“I would like to congratulate the players for their efforts in qualifying for back-to-back tournaments,” Clarke said in a statement released by the SFA promo
“I’m not sure they will fully realise the significance of their achievement yet but to qualify for successive Euros after more than 20 years is phenomenal and testament to their hard work promo
“I would also like to thank my backroom team for their support and, of course, the fans who have packed Hampden Park to capacity and made it a place to be feared once again promo
They have played a key part in our success, both home and away, and they can now look forward to making their plans for Germany – although I suspect many had done so before tonight promo
“I said after Euro 2020 that we wanted to be serial qualifiers again and reaching successive Euros finals shows the progress we’ve made promo
We will raise a glass tonight to celebrate but then it’s back to work tomorrow in preparation for our friendly against France [on Tuesday] promo
Then we turn our attention to Georgia and Norway next month and finishing with as many points as we can promo
”Steve Clarke has led Scotland to a second major tournament (Getty Images)Scotland will now look to reach the knockout stages of the Euros following what was a disappointing return to a major tournament last time out promo
Despite hosting two games at Hampden, Scotland were knocked out of Euro 2020 in the group stages following defeats to the Czech Republic and Croatia, in promo between a goalless draw against England at Wembley promo
Scotland then missed out on a place at the 2022 World Cup after losing a play-off against Ukraine, but Clarke’s team shrugged off that disappointment to make a perfect start to the Euro 2024 qualifying campaign promo
A memorable 2-0 victory over Spain at Hampden in March was followed by a stunning comeback win against Norway in June, with goals in the 87th and 89th minute earning a dramatic 2-1 turnaround against Haaland’s side promo
Scotland also picked up maximum points from their fixtures against Cyprus and Georgia, with Scott McTominay playing a key part with six goals in qualifying promo
McTominay then saw a sublime free-kick ruled out by VAR in Seville last week, with Spain going on to win 2-0, but La Roja did Scotland a favour with their victory in Norway promo
“It’s a great achievement for this squad to have qualified for Euro 2024 with two games remaining,” said Scotland captain Andy Robertson promo
When we qualified via the play-offs last time, we set ourselves a target of doing it automatically next time – so that’s the first mission accomplished promo
“Euro 2020 was a great experience and the objective for us next summer is to build on that previous experience and improve on our last overall tournament performance promo
“Our fans have been immense promo
We thank them for playing a huge part in our success and we look forward to seeing them in Germany in their tens of thousands promo
”More aboutScotland promo footballSteve ClarkeScott McTominayMartin OdegaardErling HaalandEuro 2024Andy RobertsonJoin our commenting forumJoin thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their repliesComments 1/2Scotland qualify for Euro 2024 after Spain result confirms place Scotland qualify for Euro 2024 after Spain result confirms placeSteve Clarke has led Scotland to a second major tournament Getty ImagesScotland qualify for Euro 2024 after Spain result confirms placeScotland made a perfect start to Euro 2024 qualifying, including victories over Spain and Norway Getty Images ✕Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this articleWant to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today promo
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Ireland and New Zealand played out the greatest Rugby World Cup quarter-final of all time, which ended with 37 phases of Irish agony, and yet it took just 24 hours for that game to be promo bettered by France and South Africa promo
It may not have been quite 37 phases, but France’s own final stand – desperately, fruitlessly searching for that decisive score to overcome the inevitable as the clock turns red – ended the same, heartbreaking way promo
French bodies dropped to the turf in despair, almost exactly mirroring their Irish counterparts from 24 hours earlier, and a southern hemisphere nation celebrated the ongoing World Cup domination over a northern hemisphere titan promo
It’s safe to say that no stadium in history has hosted two promo better games of rugby in the space of one weekend than we’ve been treated to at the Stade de France promo
It’s also highly likely that no venue has ever witnessed two such incredible occasions, regardless of the sport, in as many days promo
The history books will show that the Springboks triumphed 29-28 to seal a semi-final spot but the 80,000 people here will never forget the visceral thrill of watching perhaps as great a match of rugby as it’s possible for there to be promo
Nor will the majority forget the complete and utter devastation they felt as their home nation heroes came up agonisingly, excruciatingly short on the biggest stage promo
RecommendedIreland’s 37 phases of agony define greatest heartbreak as World Cup curse continuesOwen Farrell silences critics as England survive Fiji fightbackArgentina scrap their way to Rugby World Cup semi-finals as Wales come up shortEnough has already been written about the lopsided draw at this World Cup – a result of World Rugby inexplicably deciding the groups three years before the tournament – but this quarter-final weekend has truly served to show just how ludicrous the situation is promo
The Argentina vs Wales and England vs Fiji clashes down in Marseille were compelling in their own way but those four teams may as well have been playing a different sport to what has occurred in Paris promo
The breathless tempo, almost unimaginable line-speed and endless moments of world-class quality that Les Bleus and the Springboks served up, especially in a frantic yet controlled first half, were a treat to watch promo
Those opening 40 minutes, which ended with the hosts 22-19 ahead, may genuinely have been the greatest half of rugby of all time promo
Cheslin Kolbe scored a try in a mesmerising first half (Getty Images)The second half may have lacked in scoring but ratcheted up the tension instead and provided a second thrilling finale here in 24 hours promo
That the trailing team, the crowd favourites, the team that almost all neutrals wanted to triumph once again came up so devastatingly short felt almost unfair promo
And for all the suggestions that there has been a power shift in rugby to the northern hemisphere, the Springboks march on to ensure that 75 per cent of the semi-final teams will be from south of the equator promo
England, of course, are the lone exception promo
It’s an almost cruel cosmic joke that much-maligned, often-mocked England, who have benefited from a cushy draw and are largely detested by their European neighbours, are the north’s last hope promo
Perhaps Steve Borthwick’s men can stop the southern tidal wave when they face South Africa next Saturday but the evidence of this weekend suggests that is a forlorn hope promo
All the pre-match talk from both sides had been about the physicality and brutality of what lay ahead promo
Springboks prop Steven Kitshoff warned that “you’re going to have to go to a dark place quite early in this game”, while French flanker Charles Ollivon described playing South Africa as “violent” and returning talisman Antoine Dupont discussed being “willing to suffer to achieve what we want” promo
Yet while the intensity was certainly at a level rarely reached, even on the grandest stage of a World Cup, it was the special quality and efficiency of both sides that stood out most promo
The nervous anticipation that always precedes a do-or-die knockout match meant that, ahead of the game, the in-stadium atmosphere didn’t quite equal the care-free exuberance shown by Les Bleus’ raucous supporters on the opening night against the All Blacks promo
But it took less than three minutes from the first whistle to get the Stade de France rocking as a monstrous rolling maul from the home side splintered the Springbok pack from the 22 all the way to the line, where a little pop pass to Cyrill Baille saw the prop dive over in the corner for the opening try promo
The returning Antoine Dupont helped France fly out of the blocks (AFP via Getty Images)If that was France laying down an early marker, Eben Etzepromo beth took it upon himself to deliver the South African response promo
The giant lock is renowned for his brutal physicality, snarling demeanour and intimidatingly confrontational playing style but he demonstrated his athleticism and all-round game to brilliantly read a French pass just metres from the line and tap the ball backwards for an interception turnover promo
He then chased a high box kick, disrupting it in the air and allowing Kurt-Lee Arendse to seize the loose ball and race away from the defence promo
Springbok No 10 Manie Libbok’s kicking has come in for justified criticism at this World Cup but he made his own statement by nailing the touchline conversion to level the score promo
Libbok then demonstrated his world-class creativity from open play as his pinpoint up-and-under caused havoc in the French ranks promo
Cameron Woki was the man who this time failed to claim the ball successfully and Damian de Allende raced to within inches of the line before getting back up and crashing over from close range a couple of phases later promo
Frighteningly quick ball from rucks was defining France’s play, putting the aggressive Springbok defence on its heels, and this led to a penalty where talisman Dupont – back in the line-up just 24 days after fracturing his cheekbone against Namibia – showed his brawn and his rugby brain promo
“We’re calm because Antoine’s back,” hooker Peato Mauvaka had said about the No 9’s return ahead of the game and, after somehow wrestling the ball off Siya Kolisi, he took a quick-thinking tap-and-go and threw a wide pass to that man Mauvaka for the equalising try in the corner promo
The Springboks hit back, seizing on a loose French pass in midfield, going left and De Allende sliding a pinpoint grubber through for the onrushing Cheslin Kolbe to collect and run over the line but Dupont promptly showed his kicking ability to turn Kolbe around and win a five-metre lineout promo
From there, a try seemed inevitable and after a few phases off the lineout, Baille burrowed over promo
Those of you who had a first-half try double for loosehead prop Cyril Baille on your pre-match bingo card should probably think about doing the lottery this week promo
South Africa celebrated the toughest of wins (Getty Images)There was still time in this breathless opening 40 minutes for one more crucial moment promo
Etzepromo beth went too high while tackling Uini Atonio, making contact with his head, and while he contemplated becoming the first South African to spend 10 minutes in the sin-bin at this World Cup, Thomas Ramos slotted the penalty for a 22-19 half-time lead promo
While the second half wasn’t as relentless from a scoring perspective, the tension only grew promo
The Springboks survived Etzepromo beth’s absence with no further points and although Ramos then extended the French lead to six from the tee, the Boks eventually turned a long spell of pressure into try number four promo
It was the ever-present Etzepromo beth who eventually rumbled over the line, with three defenders hanging off him promo
When Handre Pollard – replacing Libbok to bring his superior goal-kicking to bear at the death – added the conversion and then nailed a monster penalty from inside his own half, the Springboks were almost there promo
But France still had one final stand promo
Firstly, Ramos slotted a 72nd-minute three-pointer to narrow the French deficit to just 29-28 and Les Bleus then set about going from their own 22 with just a couple of minutes remaining promo
They worked their way into opposition territory but, just like Ireland, ultimately ran out of ideas and, after a slightly less harrowing 11 phases, knocked on in contact to end the match promo
A stunned Stade de France fell silent, players dropped to the grass in agony and the unwanted symmetry from 24 hours earlier was complete promo
The northern hemisphere have dominated this World Cup cycle but as we head to semi-final weekend, a New Zealand vs South Africa final feels almost inevitable promo
France’s greatest chance to win a first World Cup heartbreakingly slips away and now England, a lonely hemisphere turns its eyes to you promo
More aboutFrance RugbySouth Africa rugbyRugby World CupAntoine DupontJoin our commenting forumJoin thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their repliesComments 1/4France suffer painful symmetry as Springboks extend southern dominance France suffer painful symmetry as Springboks extend southern dominanceCheslin Kolbe scored a try in a mesmerising first half Getty ImagesFrance suffer painful symmetry as Springboks extend southern dominanceThe returning Antoine Dupont helped France fly out of the blocks AFP via Getty ImagesFrance suffer painful symmetry as Springboks extend southern dominanceSouth Africa celebrated the toughest of wins Getty ImagesFrance suffer painful symmetry as Springboks extend southern dominanceFrance suffered heartbreak in the World Cup quarter-finals Reuters ✕Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this articleWant to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today promo
SubscribeAlready subscribed? Log inMost PopularPopular videosSponsored Features Get in touchContact usOur ProductsSubscribeRegisterNewslettersDonateToday’s EditionInstall our appArchiveOther publicationsInternational editionsIndependent en EspañolIndependent ArabiaIndependent TurkishIndependent PersianIndependent UrduEvening StandardExtrasAdvisorPuzzlesAll topicspromo BettingVoucher codesCompareCompetitions and offersIndependent AdvertisingIndependent IgniteSyndicationWorking at The IndependentLegalCode of conduct and complaintsContributorsCookie policyDonations Terms & ConditionsPrivacy noticeUser policiesModern Slavery Act Thank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged inCloseUS EditionChangeUK EditionAsia EditionEdición en EspañolSubscribe{{indy promo
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