Analysis
Euro 2024 qualifiers: Club rivalry issues affect Spain and can Martin Odegaard finally take centre stage?
The 2024 European Championship qualifiers continue on Saturday; Scotland and Wales take on Cyprus and Croatia respectively; and there is also a new era for Spain....
Saturday 25 March 2023 21:04, UK
Sky Sports' football writers discuss the main talking points as the 2024 European Championship qualifiers continue on Saturday...
Which goalkeeper is ready to step up for Scotland?
- Scotland vs Cyprus, March 25; kick off 2pm
- Scotland vs Spain, March 28; kick off 7.45pm
A new goalkeeper will make his Scotland debut in the Euro 2024 qualifiers at Hampden Park and Motherwell's Liam Kelly hopes he is the one given a chance.
With No 1 goalkeeper Craig Gordon out due to a double leg break, head coach Steve Clarke has also named uncapped duo Angus Gunn of Norwich and Hearts' Zander Clark in the squad.
While Kelly and Clark have been called up previously, it is Gunn's first inclusion after switching allegiance from England.
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Gordon, who has 74 Scotland caps, is targeting a return to action next season and Kelly admits whoever is given their chance will need to impress to keep the jersey.
"It's definitely a big opportunity for someone as for the last 20 years it's always been the same three who have been at this unbelievable, outrageous level," he told Sky Sports News of the Hearts stopper, David Marshall and Allan McGregor.
Kelly, who has made 35 appearances for Motherwell this season, insists there will be no bad feeling if he is overlooked for the games against Cyprus and Spain.
"I'm sure all three of us that are in the squad will feel ready to go but, if not, you support the goalie that's playing because ultimately Scotland winning is the most important thing," said the 27-year-old.
Alison Conroy
How much has El Clasico acrimony hit Spain squad?
- Spain vs Norway, March 25; kick off 7.45pm
- Scotland vs Spain, March 28; kick off 7.45pm
At the height of one of the most bitter periods in the longstanding rivalry between Real Madrid and Barcelona, a Clasico-dominated Spain squad thrashed Italy 4-0 in the Euro 2012 final to lift its third major trophy in a row.
In spite of Jose Mourinho and Pep Guardiola's personal animosity and comments from the then-Spain manager expressing "concern" over anger spilling out onto the international stage, the two teams put aside their differences to continue their role as the continent's most ruthless winning machine.
Back then, what happened on the pitch stayed on the pitch. Not so after one of the bitterest Clasicos in recent years last weekend. Dani Ceballos and Gavi - both named in Luis de la Fuente's squad - were among the worst culprits, with Ceballos later saying his opposite number should have been sent off over one flashpoint.
Reports in the Spanish press have suggested new national manager De la Fuente has been forced to hold his first training sessions in two separate groups, with Real Madrid and Barcelona players kept apart to stop tempers fraying.
Not the ideal start for a man looking to build a unit ready to lift the European Championship trophy in less than 18 months.
"The friction on the pitch is nothing more than friction in high-tension matches," Real Madrid defender Dani Carvajal insisted.
"They are two rivals between whom there are very intense games. Now, in the national team, we defend the same shirt and we are in the same boat."
A flat-out denial from the experienced defender, who has played in as many El Clasicos as most of his international team-mates.
But there is rarely smoke without fire, and the proof will be in the pudding of how well he and his team-mates can patch things up against Norway and Scotland over the coming week.
Ron Walker
Take two for Ramsey as Wales begin post-Bale era
- Croatia vs Wales, March 25; kick-off 7.45pm
- Wales vs Latvia, March 28; kick-off 7.45pm
When Gareth Bale retired, Aaron Ramsey clearly went through significant reflection on where he wanted his future to go.
He could well have retired as well, and while the impact for Wales no longer having Bale will be great, to lose both Bale and Ramsey would have been extraordinarily challenging.
To compare, imagine Harry Kane, Jordan Henderson or Raheem Stirling all retiring from England duty at the same time. It's a lot of experience, goals and talent to lose in one go.
So why Ramsey as captain, and what will he bring? Ramsey was seen as captaincy material 12 years ago by the late Gary Speed. He appointed Ramsey as Wales skipper when he was only 20 years old; he saw something then, albeit at a very young age.
Ramsey would be succeeded in the role in 2012 by Ashley Williams, but he has remained part of a senior leadership group within the Wales set-up. Ramsey is not the next cab on the rank, he is the natural successor given the fact he has committed to playing for Wales and at a high level with his club Nice in Ligue 1.
He has the experience and knowhow, but will do the job very differently from Bale. Ramsey is a different character, outwardly quieter, softly spoken. A slight shift perhaps in approach.
That, I'm sure, will help Rob Page with his ambition for the 'post-Bale-era Wales' as he has made some significant changes to his backroom staff following the World Cup. A subtle shake-up and freshening up.
Geraint Hughes
Can Odegaard finally take centre stage in Spain?
- Spain vs Norway, March 25; kick-off 7.45pm
- Georgia vs Norway, March 28, kick-off 5pm
Martin Odegaard spent six years contracted to Real Madrid but failed to hit the ground at all, let alone hit it running.
In fact, he only represented Real 11 times in that period and, barring a successful loan spell at Real Soceidad, life in LaLiga ended up passing him by.
Now the Norway midfielder will lead out his country against Spain finally fulfilling the potential he showed when Real signed him as a 15-year-old back in 2015. Now one of the Premier League's shining lights with leaders Arsenal, he can finally show Spanish audiences what the hype was all about.
Odegaard's role is particularly important this Saturday given Erling Haaland's withdrawal from the Norway squad due to a groin injury.
The striker understudies are a bit hit and miss - Alexander Sorloth had endured mixed seasons in Europe following his failed spell at Crystal Palace, while Ola Solbakken is deemed one for the future after his outings for Bodo/Glimt earned him a January move to Jose Mourinho's Roma.
Odegaard will be the creative influence as Norway look to get this relatively high-profile group of players to a first major tournament in nearly a quarter of a century.
Sam Blitz
Armenia prepare to face Turkey for first time since 2009
- Armenia vs Turkey, March 25; kick-off 5pm
- Armenia vs Cyprus, March 28; kick-off 4pm
- Turkey vs Croatia, March 28; kick-off 7.45pm
This may seem on the surface to be a battle among the also-rans in Wales' Euro 2024 qualifying group along with Croatia, but there is a lot of geo-political history when it comes to Armenia's relations with Turkey.
The two countries have been drawn in the same group and will face each other on Saturday for only the third time in history.
Armenia became an independent country in 1991 and despite them having a land border, there have been very few diplomatic relations over the past 32 years.
The tension appears to be thawing for now. The only other times Turkey faced Armenia was in 2008 and 2009, with Turkey winning both matches only to fail in qualifying for the 2010 World Cup.
The games were used as part of an international rapprochement under Gianni Infantino, the then UEFA Deputy General Secretary.
Tentative decorum was reached for that short period only to immediately collapse. This time, the games are not being used in any diplomatic sense as UEFA does not want them to be associated with previous failures to build bridges.
Small steps have been taken to reconciling differences with the opening of land borders to third-country citizens and the opening of airspaces to cargo transportation last July.
This will be a game played against a political backdrop but also laced with emotion, in the aftermath of the earthquake that has shocked Turkey. UEFA made an initial donation of €200,000 to support the vast humanitarian operation assisting the victims.
It is a long road to the European Championship final in Berlin on July 14, 2024 - and an even longer road to reconciliation for these two European neighbours. But for Armenians and their Turkish counterparts, the hope is that football can this time facilitate smoother relations. That would represent as big a victory for some as reaching the finals in Germany.
Ben Grounds
