New Spain manager Luis De La Fuente got off to a winning start with a 3-0 victory over Norway in the Euro 2024 qualifying Group A opener in Malaga.
Former under-21s boss De La Fuente took over from Luis Enrique in December following a disappointing World Cup in Qatar, and saw RB Leipzig forward Dani Olmo fire Spain ahead at La Rosaleda in the 13th minute.
Substitute Joselu marked his international debut with a quick-fire brace inside the closing six minutes to wrap up victory against a Norway side missing Erling Haaland.
Two goals off the bench for Scott McTominay 😮💨#SCOCYP pic.twitter.com/wcw5kHquvM
— Scotland National Team (@ScotlandNT) March 25, 2023
Scotland opened their campaign with a 3-0 win over Cyprus at Hampden Park.
Midfielder John McGinn scored his 16th international goal after 21 minutes, with second-half substitute Scott McTominay eventually settling matters when he scored a late double.
Cyprus ended the game with 10 men after Nicholas Ioannou was sent off for kicking the ball away in frustration to pick up his second yellow card.
WHAT IT MEANS 🤩😭
Yes we’ll be watching this on repeat all night too! #TogetherStronger | #CROWAL pic.twitter.com/XBaUYONUXv
— Wales 🏴 (@Cymru) March 25, 2023
In Group D, Wales scored a dramatic stoppage-time equaliser to snatch a 1-1 draw with World Cup semi-finalists Croatia in Split.
After the hosts had just seen a goal disallowed, Hoffenheim striker Andrej Kramaric broke the deadlock in the 28th minute.
Tottenham winger Ivan Perisic struck the crossbar with a brilliant angled volley before Wales grabbed a point late on when debutant Nathan Broadhead tapped the ball in at the far post after a long throw had been flicked across goal.
Turkey came from behind to win 2-1 in Armenia after Hoffenheim defender Ozan Kabak had scored an early own goal.
25-minute hat-trick ✅
🇨🇭 Renato Steffen put on a first-half show to remember 🎩🪄#EURO2024 pic.twitter.com/8TDVtztZrE
— UEFA EURO 2024 (@EURO2024) March 25, 2023
In Group I, Switzerland opened up with a 5-0 away win over Belarus, with Renato Steffen hitting a hat-trick inside the opening 29 minutes.
Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka and Mohamed Zeki Amdouni were also on target in the second half, with the match played in Serbia.
Romania won 2-0 in Andorra with goals from Dennis Man and Denis Alibec either side of half-time before the hosts saw midfielder Marc Rebes sent off for a second caution while Israel were held to a 1-1 draw by Kosovo in Tel Aviv.
