Scotland must show belief against Spain, says absent Kieran Tierney

Scott McTominay and Kieran Tierney celebrate the former's double that defeated Spain in March

Scotland need to go into Thursday's match with Spain believing they are capable of getting a positive result, said Kieran Tierney.

The Scots can seal a place in next year's Euro 2024 finals by avoiding defeat in Seville but can also qualify if Norway fail to beat Cyprus.

Injury means Tierney, 26, will not feature but he was part of the side that defeated Spain 2-0 in March.

"We believe we can go out there and do our best," said Tierney.

"I think you need to. What's the point in going into a game believing you've got no chance? It'll be a tough game, there's no doubt about it - a world class team, away from home and they need to keep winning to go through and everyone wants to top the group so it's a game both teams want to do really well in.

"Belief is a big thing in football and it's the same as Spain at home for us - tough, but it's the same team. It's a game nobody fancies us in except for the Scotland fans and the people in the changing room."

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Scott McTominay netted twice against Spain at Hampden, one of five Scotland wins out of five so far in Group A.

However, the Scots, who last won away to Spain in 1975, had their run halted in a friendly defeat by England last month.

"The friendlies we've got have been organised for a reason," Tierney told BBC Scotland prior to picking up the injury that ruled him out against Spain.

"France as well [on 17 October], so I think you're playing top opposition and world class players all over the pitch and they bring on five more as well, so to play against teams like that, because that's the level we want to be at, we're not where they are yet.

"England go into every tournament mostly as one of the favourites to win it and we're at the stage where we just want to qualify, then take it from there and see what we can do when we get there.

"But the expectation for them is a lot higher, so playing against teams like that is a good learning curve for us and all the boys in the team have got good experience playing against big teams for their club every week or every few weeks. So, it's just more of a test and learning."

With two wins over Cyprus secured, victory against Norway away and home wins versus Spain and Georgia, Scotland have given themselves a chance to reach a major finals from a qualification group for the first time since 1997.

"You see when we go to the games, like even Georgia at home, rained off for about an hour and a half or something," added Tierney, who is on loan at Real Sociedad from Arsenal.

"You go back out and it's still a full stadium - it doesn't bother anybody. The fans create an atmosphere and that's what's helping keeping us going because we know we're so close to the target we want and we've just got a final hurdle to get over now."

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