November 20 – Ballon d’Or runner up Erling Haaland is set to lose out on Euro 2024 qualification after his side’s thrilling 3-3 draw against Scotland on Sunday.
The result all but sealed Scotland’s tournament ambitions next summer and left the Norwegian side with an empty calendar, as the draw put the Scots six points clear in second place on 17 points. They will join group leaders Spain at the upcoming tournament.
Narrowly missing out to Lionel Messi for 2023’s Ballon d’Or thanks to Argentina’s acquistion of the World Cup, which Haaland’s Norway similarly failed to qualify for, the golden boot winner will have to wait until 2026’s FIFA World Cup tournament – by which point he will be 26-years-old.
The striker is still yet to partake in a major tournament with his national side after failing to qualify for last year’s World Cup, which kick off exactly one year ago.
He sustained an ankle injury coming off the bench in his side’s game versus the Faroe Islands earlier this week, which early reports suggested will rule him out for Manchester City’s top-of-the-table clash versus Liverpool in five days time. Norway’s medical team have since insisted that the Premier League’s top goal scorer will be fit for the title fight after all.
Joined by Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard, the Norwegians lost out in Euro 2024 qualifying to a triumphant Spain and an unexpectedly energised Scotland fuelled by the upturn in form from Manchester United’s Scott McTominay.
The Scottish midfielder was the Tartan Army’s top scorer in Euro Qualifying with 7 goals. He sits joint fifth in the qualifying top scorers charts behind Harry Kane, Cristiano Ronaldo, Kylian Mbappe and Romelu Lukaku and level with Manchester United teammate Rasmus Hojlund.
McTominay has been one of the few shining lights in the red half of Manchester this season, scoring three league goals from defensive midfield – more than The Red Devils’ entire attacking roster combined.
Contact the writer of this story, Harry Ewing, at moc.l1734851645labto1734851645ofdlr1734851645owedi1734851645sni@g1734851645niwe.1734851645yrrah1734851645