Norway’s 1-0 defeat to Spain in Oslo last night removed any lingering doubts.

Despite having two games still to play, Scotland have qualified for next summer’s Euros in Germany. 

Here, Mail Sport recalls how Steve Clarke’s side sprung out of the blocks to maintain a ferocious pace in Group A and leave the expected challenges floundering in their wake.

Scotland have qualified for their first major tournament since 1998

Scotland have qualified for their first major tournament since 1998 

Steve Clarke’s side sprung out of the blocks to maintain a ferocious pace in Group A

Steve Clarke’s side sprung out of the blocks to maintain a ferocious pace in Group A

March 25, 2023 – Scotland 3 Cyprus 0 (McGinn 21, McTominay 87, 93)

The final scoreline suggested this was a routine victory. The truth was somewhat different.

In a section with just five teams, anything other than an opening-day win at home to the group outsiders would have been nothing short of a disaster.

John McGinn’s 16th goal in Dark Blue, a fine close-range finish following Andy Robertson’s deflected cross, was no more than Clarke’s men deserved after a dominant first-half display.

But with a cutting edge absent in the second half and a dogged Cypriot team beginning to threaten on the break, there was a nervousness around Hampden in the closing stages.

Clarke deserved huge credit for the way in which the result was put beyond all doubt with his three substitutes combining for the second goal.

Ryan Christie chased down a lost cause on the right flank and crossed for Lyndon Dykes. His header was brilliantly taken in his stride by Scott McTominay who then smashed home on the half-volley.

With the pressure off, the Manchester United man added some gloss to the score deep into stoppage time when he calmly redirected Robertson’s pass into the net.

Scott McTominay scored two late goals in the 3-0 win over Cyprus in March

Scott McTominay scored two late goals in the 3-0 win over Cyprus in March

March 28, 2023 – Scotland 2 Spain 0 (McTominay 7, 51)

Having done what was expected of them three days previously, could Clarke’s side follow it up by taking a big scalp and change the complexion of the entire group?

With the Scots refusing to let Spain settle, an untimely slip by Pedro Porro let in Robertson. The perfect cut-back still left McTominay with work to do but the midfielder rolled the ball home with the help of a slight deflection into the far corner.

As Spain pressed for an equaliser, Joselu hit the bar — but this was to be Scotland’s night.

Early in the second half, Kieran Tierney bulldozed his way down the left and crossed. David Garcia’s block sat up perfectly for McTominay, who bulleted home a volley.

The final whistle sparked scenes of unbridled joy in the stands. It was a night to rank among any in 150 years of Scotland internationals.

The former world champions didn’t appreciate the fact that they’d been second best, with Manchester City’s Rodri a particularly graceless loser.

McTominay scored in both halves as Scotland beat Spain 2-0 at Hampden in March

McTominay scored in both halves as Scotland beat Spain 2-0 at Hampden in March 

June 17, 2023 – Norway 1 Scotland 2 (Dykes 87, McLean 89)

If you can pick up a point on your travels while being a little off the pace, that’s a welcome trait.

But if you can win matches while turning in a truly abject performance, that’s a different matter altogether.

For 87 minutes in Oslo, Scotland were simply not at the races. Loose in possession, failing to apply any concerted pressure to the Norwegians, there could have be no complaints if Erling Haaland’s second-half penalty had been the difference between the teams.

The phrase ‘smash and grab’ doesn’t quite cover what we witnessed inside the space of three minutes.

Out of absolutely nothing, Dykes pounced on an error by Norwegian defender Leo Ostigard to claim what appeared to be a scarcely-deserved point.

Before the Tartan Army had even processed what had happened, though, Scotland scored a second on the counter when Kenny McLean found the far corner after Dykes’ lay-off. Just astonishing.

Scotland scored twice late on to snatch a crucial 2-1 win over Norway in June

Scotland scored twice late on to snatch a crucial 2-1 win over Norway in June

June 20, 2023 – Scotland 2 Georgia 0 (McGregor 6, McTominay 47)

The Scots had done their homework on Napoli’s Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.

But there was precious little they could have done to prepare for the remarkable circumstances which surrounded their fourth straight win in the group.

Despite a Biblical deluge in the hour before kick-off, the game started as planned — with Callum McGregor firing Clarke’s side in front early on after Georgia had failed to clear a corner.

The match was in danger of becoming a waterlogged farce, and referee Istvan Vad took the sides off.

For fully 90 minutes, the Hampden ground staff worked like Trojans to sweep the water from the park.

When it looked liked they were fighting a losing battle, rumours of the game being re-started the following day in Paisley abounded. Thankfully, it didn’t come to that.

McTominay’s brilliant finish just after the break sealed a victory that said much about the side’s mental strength.

Kvaratskhelia even ballooned a stoppage-time penalty over the bar — just before 11.20pm.

Callum McGregor (left) fired Scotland in front against Georgia in a biblical downpour at Hampden Park in June, as the home side won 2-0

Callum McGregor (left) fired Scotland in front against Georgia in a biblical downpour at Hampden Park in June, as the home side won 2-0

September 8, 2023 – Cyprus 0 Scotland 3 (McTominay 6, Porteous 16, McGinn 30)

A night which again demonstrated that the mental toughness of this squad is just on a different level to so many of the past.

In the baking heat of Larnaca, the expectation was still that Clarke’s side would have to toil right up until the last kick of the game to keep their perfect start to the campaign intact. Not so.

With their attitude on point from the first whistle, Scotland saved their long-suffering supporters another anxious night by getting the job done inside half an hour.

McTominay became the joint-top scorer in the qualifiers by steering McGinn’s flick-on over the line on six minutes.

Ryan Porteous scored the second goal of the game as Scotland won 3-0 in Cyprus

Ryan Porteous scored the second goal of the game as Scotland won 3-0 in Cyprus

Just ten minutes later, Ryan Porteous doubled the advantage from close range following Jack Hendry’s knock down.

Any lingering doubts were extinguished on 30 minutes when McGinn’s brilliant left-foot curler nestled in the Cypriot net.

With 15 points from 15 for Clarke’s men, a draw in Oslo a few days later between Norway and Georgia would have guaranteed Scotland’s place in the finals, only for the hosts to win 2-1.

October 12, 2023 – Spain 2 Scotland 0

Needing to avoid defeat to qualify for Germany, this turned out to be the only blip in Scotland’s campaign to date, and what a controversial way for it to unfold in Seville as Dutch referee Serdar Gozubuyuk’s VAR-assisted decision to disallow Scott McTominay’s wonder goal for offside sparked mass confusion and anger. 

Late goals from Alvaro Morata and Oihan Sancet provided the visibly-relieved Spaniards with a 2-0 victory — and revenge of sorts for defeat at Hampden — but it only delayed Scotland’s qualification for three more days prior to last night’s result in Oslo.

Goals from Alvaro Morata and Oihan Sancet (above) secured a 2-0 win for Spain on Thursday

Goals from Alvaro Morata and Oihan Sancet (above) secured a 2-0 win for Spain on Thursday

IT’S ALL KICKING OFF! 

It’s All Kicking Off is an exciting new podcast from Mail Sport that promises a different take on Premier League football.

It is available on MailOnline, Mail+, YouTube, Apple Music and Spotify.

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Post source: Daily mail

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