Donathan

If we are beaten in Spain (The only way that the Norway/Spain game matters in terms of us qualifying) then we'd be hoping for a draw between Norway and Spain. Spain currently six points behind us with a game in hand. If they beat us in Seville they'd go three behind us with their game in hand in Oslo three days later. If their win over us is by 2 or more goals, then they go top if they win in Oslo and then we would need snookers to have a chance of winning the group. Spain's last two fixtures are a trip to Cyprus and Georgia at home, so if they go into that final window sitting in 1st place, overhauling them is nearly impossible. Having said that, I think psychologically it would be good for us to have qualification wrapped up before that final window. I don't really know why but I trust us a lot more to take care of business in Georgia if we go there having already qualified but still needing a win to improve our seeding than if we go there needing to try and avoid a do or die game against Norway. A draw between Norway and Spain clinches qualification for us AND keeps 1st place in our own hands going into the final doubleheader. If I was offered a defeat in Spain but a guaranteed Norway/Spain draw right now I'd be inclined to take it. I'm intrigued to see how Clarke plays the Spain game. You could go full Craig Levein and park the bus to play for a 0-0 or at worst a 1-0 defeat (which isn't a bad result because it keeps us 3 points ahead of them and clinches the H2H tiebreaker, so the group is in our own hands). Or do you go all out to win in Spain and end the group there and then, but risk a 2+ goal defeat that swings the group in their favour?

Still feels like an awful lot has to go wrong for us to not make it. Norway drop another point at all, we are in. Annoyingly their easiest remaining game is the next one in Cyprus so there's a chance to build momentum, but they still need to beat Spain at home and then come to Hampden and win, and probably by 2 clear goals if we get a point in Tbilisi. We get a point in Spain, we're in. We win in Georgia, we're in. If Norway win their last 3 and we lose our last 3 (or get only a single point in Georgia) then we're in trouble. Can't see Spain slipping up far enough for us to qualify ahead of them in that case.

Think we qualify with even a point in Spain

The situation has worsened slightly after Norway won last night but we still only need ONE of the following scenarios to play out for us to qualify: A) We win in Spain (would clinch the group outright) or Georgia (Think we have a >50% chance to win at least one of them) B) We get a point at home to Norway (70% chance) C) We draw in both Spain and Georgia. (unlikely) D) Norway drop points at home to Spain (70%-80% chance) E) Norway drop points in Cyprus (Nae chance) F) We draw with Spain and they lose 1 or draw 2 of Norway/Cyprus away and Georgia home (Highly unlikely) G) Draw with Georgia and Spain lose 2 or draw all 3 of Norway/Cyprus away and Georgia home (Nae chance) H) Spain get a maximum of 2 points from Norway/Cyprus away and Georgia home (Naw chance)

Georgia goal. 2 mins of injury time left.

Complete reality check. I hope Clarke gives them an absolute bollocking at half time.

Can we fact check this “Scotland get battered everywhere they go” chant? Some guys not been checking the recent results

Norway 2-0

That Kvaratskhelia boy looks pish again

Norway 1-0

This reminds me of the Spain game. England having a lot of the ball without creating much. We just need a goal on the break.

The delayed offside is so the APP can be checked if they go on to score or win a penalty. Better to let the APP run than put an incorrect flag up.

Pretty end to end game. Georgia playing alright.

Why are folk booing the silence?

Tierney singing…

Channel 4 have made no attempt to drown it out

That channel 4 using the Lyndon Dykes song to advertise the bake off?

McGinn and McSauce could have a field day against their untested CB pairing of Dunk and Guehi. Kalvin Phillips an obvious weak link in midfield, expect another great performance from Gilmour and McGregor. Ramsdale has made mistakes for Arsenal when trying to play out from the back so we should be looking to press him.

Parts of the England team have been linked. Ramsdale in goals, Walker right back, Trippier left back.

Okay, but that doesn't take away from the fact that they're asking for the Jacobites to be crushed. Not ALL Scots.

We don't normally have a thread section to discuss matches that Scotland aren't playing in but this evening at the Ulevaal Stadium in Oslo sees Norway host Georgia in one of the most significant non-Scotland matches in terms of how it affects us in the past few decades. Whilst most of us will be focusing on the "friendly" match at Hampden this evening, I'm sure I won't be the only one watching Norway v Georgia on another device. Scotland will clinch qualification for Euro 2024 if the game ends in a draw. If we do see a winner, that team and Spain will be the only two teams capable of catching us. The loser will be eliminated from the ability to catch us. The bookies are fairly convinced that Norway will take care of business. Paddy Power price the hosts at 2/9, with the draw at 9/2 and Georgia a massive 12/1. Norway's danger man needs no introduction. Erling Haaland has scored three times out of their five total goals scored in qualifying so far. Haaland has 25 caps for his country and has scored 24 times, and at the age of just 23, he's got a long career ahead of him and will be desperate to play at major tournaments. Behind him, creative midfielder Martin Odegaard added a lot of goals to his game at Arsenal last season and will be desperate to add to his 2 goals for Norway. Georgia's main man is Napoli winger Kvicha Kvaratskhelia. The talisman missed the opportunity to add to his 10 international goals when he skied a penalty at Hampden in June, but 10 in 23 is a solid record. They beat Sweden 2-0 at home in 2021 and have won competitive matches at home to Croatia before and of course beaten us twice, but this would probably represent their best ever away win. I hope I'm wrong but I think Norway will beat them quite easily. 3-0 Norway.

You realise that this verse was removed hundreds of years ago, and that the "rebellious Scots" that are to be crushed is a specific group of Scots? The Jacobite rebels under Bonnie Prince Charlie - who were defeated at Culloden by large numbers of other Scots (who might have wished that Marshall Wade had done the job for them in the North of England).

Source?

It’s quite confusing to me that anyone would feel “uncomfortable” in the Scotland camp as the Sun have suggested. Surely with us playing incredibly well and winning just now, it’s a jovial and supportive atmosphere in there. The players seem to love playing for each other and love playing for Clarke. Suppose you’ve got a player who’s completely indifferent from a national identity standpoint (like my best mate who was born in England to a Scottish mother and has lived in England all his life but is fiercely proud of being half Scottish and supports both Scotland and England equally in all sports) and their decision on which country to represent is purely based on career prospects. Logically, a top top level player should choose England to have a better chance of winning major tournaments, whereas a player of the level of Harvey Barnes for example should choose Scotland because it’s better to win dozens of Scotland caps and hopefully play at a few tournaments than maybe make the occasional squad for England. So the question is whether Anderson backs himself to reach the levels of a Saka or Marcus Rashford type player. I’d suggest it’s pretty unlikely he will be that good so logically he should play for Scotland unless he really feels much more strongly about England, but given that he’s represented at under 16, 17, 18 and 21 level with a single England under 19 cap, I’d suggest he’s normally happy enough pulling on the dark blue.

Maybe the winner tonight should get their pick of Anderson or Barnes and the loser gets whichever one is left.