It’s all kicking off in the Euro 2024 qualifiers this weekend!
As last year’s World Cup fades into the background, the race to reach Euro 2024 is already well and truly on! The last round of fixtures sprung quite a few surprises, such as Denmark crashing to a 3-2 defeat to rank outsiders, Kazakhstan, Scotland taking full advantage of playing on home soil by beating Spain 2-0 and Georgia picking up a point against Norway.
Of course, a new round of crunch clashes brings with it yet more talking points, namely will Scotland continue their perfect start to life in Group A against Norway? Will Ronaldo add to his record goal scoring haul as Portugal take on Bosnia & Herzegovina? Who will emerge victorious as Belgium take on Austria? Have Ukraine got what it takes to beat North Macedonia?
So, without further ado, let’s take a look at what this weekend’s football action has in store for us!
Contents:
- Norway vs Scotland
- Portugal vs Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Belgium vs Austria
- North Macedonia vs Ukraine
Norway vs Croatia
Fireworks are bound to fly at the Ullevaal Stadion in Saturday evening’s tea-time kick off as Norway entertain Group A’s early pace-setters, Scotland. It’s been a rocky start to their quest to reach the Euros for the hosts, who’ve only managed to muster a single point in their first two matches after losing 3-0 to Spain in their opening fixture before being held to a 1-1 draw by Georgia. What’s more, Staale Solbakken’s men have been on a rotten run of form over the last few months, winning just 3 of their last 10 matches and they’ll be desperate to get a result in a match where they cannot afford to drop any more points if they’re to keep their hopes of reaching next summers Euros alive.
Luckily for Løvene, goal machine Erling Haaland is back after missing March’s fixtures due to injury and looks set to feature in this crunch clash, fresh from securing a continental treble with Man City. The former Dortmund man has been in absolutely blistering form this season, scoring 52 goals in 53 games in all competitions at club level and also averaged more than a goal a game for his country (9 goals in 8 games) last year.
Whilst the goals have dried up a little for Haaland as of late, with the the mercurial Martin Ødegaard pulling the strings in midfield and supplying balls for him to chase, Norway’s #9 will no doubt fancy his chances of ending his goal drought on this occasion.
That being said, it won’t be a walk in the park for them against Scotland as they look to make it 3 wins on the bounce. Although The Tartan Army were handed a tough draw in Group A, it’s a job very well done for them so far as they’ve built on the impressive form they showed in the Nations League last year with 2 wins out of 2 in their opening Euro 2024 qualifiers.
What’s more, Steve Clarke’s men have hit the ground running in this competition, following up their 3-0 win over Cyprus by pulling off the mother of all upsets to beat Spain 2-0. Clarke’s decision to play Scott McTominay in central midfield also worked wonders in both of these games, as the Man United man scored back-to-back braces.
Can they make it 3 wins out of 3 or will Norway have other ideas?
Portugal vs Bosnia and Herzegovina
Portugal will be looking to complete a hat-trick of wins on Friday evening as they lock horns with Bosnia and Herzegovina at the Estádio da Luz. The hosts recovered from the bitter disappointment of their shock World Cup quarter-final exit at the hands of Morocco in emphatic fashion back in March as they kicked off their quest to reach Euro 2024 with 4-0 and 6-0 wins over Liechtenstein and Luxembourg respectively.
Captain fantastic Cristiano Ronaldo was amongst the goals yet again, bagging a brace in both of the aforementioned matches, illustrating that, while his career might be over at the highest level at club level after his move to the Middle East, he’s still got what it takes to bring the goods on the international stage.
Moreover, with the likes of Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva, Rafael Leão and Goncalo Ramos also at their disposal, the hosts have more than enough firepower to cause even the sturdiest of defences more than a few headaches. Given their strength going forward, it would arguably take nerves of steel to bet against Ronaldo and Co. scoring here.
One team who will be hoping that can stop Portugal in their tracks is Bosnia and Herzegovina as they seek to get their qualification campaign back on track. Despite jumping right out of the blocks with a 3-0 win over Iceland in their opening match, the visitors came crashing down to earth only 3 days later as they slumped to a 2-0 defeat against Slovakia. Although Faruk Hadzibegic’s men will be without the services of Rade Krunić, who bagged a brace against Iceland, they will be able to call upon veteran skipper Edin Džeko and the Inter men will be desperate to numb the pain of his club’s recent Champions League final defeat to Man City.
Can he inspire his country to a famous win here or will their opponents have too much for them on this occasion?
Belgium vs Austria
It’s 1st against 2nd at the King Baudouin Stadium on Saturday evening as Belgium take on Austria in a clash which could see them trade places. The Red Devils recovered from their underwhelming showing in Qatar by kicking off their Euro 2024 campaign with a thumping 3-0 win over Sweden with Romelu Lukaku bagging a hat-trick in new manager Domenico Tedesco’s first game in charge.
Given that captain Kevin De Bruyne will have to sit this one out after picking up a knock in the Champions League final, Tedesco will be hoping that Lukaku’s experience and recent form at club level could prove to be decisive as his side seek to make it 2 wins out of 2.
Things won’t be plain sailing for them against Austria, however, as the visitors have made the perfect start to life in Group F with 2 wins in their first 2 matches. Ralf Rangick’s men are also in fine form at the moment as they come into this crunch clash on the back of a 4-game winning streak and they will be in no mood to loosen their grip on top spot here.
Will they throw a spanner in the works or will the hosts overtake them at the top of the group?
North Macedonia vs Ukraine
Ukraine will be looking to build on Monday night’s thrilling 3-3 draw against Germany as they search for a first win in their quest to reach Euro 2024. It was an eventful start to life in the Ukraine hotseat for Dynamo Kyiv legend Serhiy Rebrov, as while Germany dominated the game in terms of shots on goal and possessions, his side ruthlessly took advantage of some incredibly lax defending from their opponents to come back from 1-0 down to lead 3-1 before two late goals from Kai Havertz and Joshua Kimmich spared the hosts’ blushes.
What’s more, Rebrov’s men will no doubt view this tie as an ideal opportunity to pick up some points, especially given that they’ll have to deal with tough games against England and Italy later in their qualifying campaign. Whilst North Macedonia have bounced back for last year’s 5-game losing streak with back-to-back wins, both of these victories came against lesser opposition and it still remains to be seen what they’re capable of against more serious opposition.
Can they make it 3 wins on the trot or will their winning streak come to a screeching halt?