Angus Gunn feels like he has been a Scotland player for years given the way he has fitted into the squad and enjoyed some major memories.
Now he believes he and his Scotland team-mates can cap off an extraordinary six months by getting a result in Spain on Thursday and qualifying for Euro 2024.
The goalkeeper only made his debut in March but has experienced victory over Spain – on his second appearance – and a dramatic comeback win against Norway in Oslo.
In five competitive games, the Norwich player has only conceded one goal – an Erling Haaland penalty.
“It’s been seamless really,” the 27-year-old said. “The lads have made it so easy for me, the coaching staff as well have been great.
“It’s like I’ve been here for years. I feel very comfortable and obviously the results help. I am really enjoying it and hopefully it can carry on for years to come.
“I definitely feel I am getting more comfortable every camp, that’s only natural. I have definitely grown in confidence every time.”
Gunn represented England at youth level up to the under-21s and was also called up to the senior squad in 2017, but eventually opted to follow in his father’s footsteps and play for Scotland.
“International football is the pinnacle of any player’s career really,” the former Southampton and Manchester City keeper said.
“From my point of view I wasn’t playing regularly at my club to warrant playing international football.
“When I was, and when I spoke to the manager here and decided to come and be involved, things have gone from strength to strength confidence-wise and given me the boost I feel like I needed in my career
“It’s been an unbelievable year and hopefully we can push on and go that one step further.”
Gunn has found himself reliving the special moments while away from international duty.
“It’s been unbelievable the nights we have had so far,” he said. “Beating Spain and going to Norway and getting that last-minute winner.
“I find myself at home watching all the videos back and the commentaries. It’s been a bit of a whirlwind but it’s been unbelievable and hopefully there’s more to come.
“Every time I watch them I get goosebumps. Kenny (McLean)’s winner in Norway, I always go back to the club and play it loud in the changing room so all the lads can hear it.
“Those kind of moments live long in the memory of the fans and not just them, it’s the players as well.”
His father, Bryan, also has six caps for Scotland and the former Aberdeen and Norwich goalkeeper is making the most of his son’s involvement.
“He was over in Norway as well, he was enjoying it with the Tartan Army,” Gunn said.
“I remember seeing him after the game and he was pretty… jolly.
“All my family are on a journey with me as well. Fingers crossed everything goes well, I think it will be a proud moment for them to hopefully come over to a major tournament and see me play.”
Scotland will qualify if they get a point in Spain or if Norway fail to beat Cyprus on the same night – or subsequently fail to beat the Spaniards on Sunday.
Steve Clarke’s men want to get the job done themselves after beating Spain 2-0 at Hampden in March.
“We are confident,” Gunn said. “It’s a great atmosphere in the squad. We have done unbelievably well so far and we are nearly there so it’s down to us to stay professional and go over to Spain and hopefully get the result we want.
“With what we have done so far, we have given ourselves the confidence that we can go there and get a result, and obviously the points we have on the board gives us less pressure to get a result, so we can play with more freedom and hopefully, like we have done at Hampden, go away and score a few goals as well.”
Hurtig the hero after late goal sends Arsenal into Champions League quarters
Lina Hurtig's 89th minute winner ensured Arsenal progressed to the quarter-finals of the Women's Champions League after edging Juventus 1-0 on Thursday.
After being frustrated for large parts of the encounter, Hurtig bundled home from close range after Martina Lenzini's poor clearance to book the Gunners' place in the last eight.
Despite Arsenal dominating the early exchanges, it was Juventus who had the first sight of goal, though Eva Schatzer's effort was easy for Daphne van Domselaar to gather.
In a first half that saw just two shots on target, both coming from the visitors, Renee Slegers' substitutes proved to be the difference for Arsenal.
Slegers introduced Beth Mead, Stina Blackstenius and Hurtig late on, with the latter somehow putting Kim Little's cross over the bar from five yards out.
However, the Swede would atone for her earlier error, combining with fellow substitute Blackstenius to net against her former club and send them out of the competition with two group games remaining.
Meanwhile, in Group D, Barcelona edged closer to the quarter-finals of the competition with a convincing 4-1 victory over St. Polten at the Generali Arena.
The reigning champions are still three points behind Manchester City following their 2-1 win over Hammarby, and know a win against the Swedes next month will see them progress.
Kika Nazareth opened the scoring in the 20th minute after capitalising on a mistake by Kamila Dubcova, notching her second nine minutes later from close range.
Barca found themselves three goals up at the break when Vicky Lopez netted her first goal in the competition to put the result beyond doubt.
There was also a landmark moment for Alexia Putellas, who netted her 200th goal for the club with a well-taken effort into the far corner.
Valentina Madl took some of the shine off an otherwise impressive display from the visitors, who have now taken their tally to 20 goals from their four matches in the competition.
Guardiola agrees two-year contract extension with Man City
Pep Guardiola will be Manchester City manager for at least two more seasons after 2024-25, after he signed a two-year contract extension on Thursday.
The 53-year-old was coming to the end of his City deal, which was due to expire at the end of the current campaign, but he has opted to remain at the Etihad Stadium.
The deal itself will take Guardiola's tenure at the club to over a decade, making him City's longest-serving manager since Les McDowall in 1963.
There had been suggestions that he may leave at the end of the season following the announcement that director of football Txiki Begiristain was on his way out.
Guardiola was strongly linked with the England job after Gareth Southgate resigned in the wake of their Euro 2024 final defeat, but the Football Association appointed Thomas Tuchel last month.
“Manchester City means so much to me," Guardiola said. “This is my ninth season here; we have experienced so many amazing times together. I have a really special feeling for this football club.
“That is why I am so happy to be staying for another two more seasons.
“Thank you to everyone for continuing to trust and support me – The Owner, The Chairman Khaldoon, Ferran, Txiki, the players and, of course, the fans… everyone connected to Manchester City. It has always been an honour, a pleasure and a privilege to be here.
“I have said this many times before, but I have everything a manager could ever wish for, and I appreciate that so much.
“Hopefully, now we can add more trophies to the ones we have already won. That will be my focus.”
Having been appointed in 2016, Guardiola is by some distance Manchester City's most successful manager of all time, having won 18 major trophies during his time at the club.
That list includes their first-ever Champions League triumph in 2023 and six Premier League titles, including an unprecedented four on the spin.
He also boasts a 72.04% win percentage across all competitions, which is unsurprisingly the highest of any full-time City manager in history.
Shaw at the double as Man City progress in Champions League
Khadija Shaw scored twice as Manchester City beat Hammarby 2-1 to seal their place in the Women's Champions League quarter-finals.
Gareth Taylor's team entered Thursday's game with a perfect record in Group D, and their fourth win in as many European matches ensured they finished in the top two.
Shaw—the leading scorer in the Women's Super League this season with eight goals—put them ahead in the 31st minute, driving into the area after taking in Yui Hasegawa's pass before seeing her shot deflect into the top corner.
Shaw was booked for celebrating in front of the home fans despite appearing to have objects thrown at her from the stands, and Hammarby should have levelled when Julia Blakstad fired wide 10 minutes later.
The hosts did draw level three minutes into the second half as Ellen Wangerheim tapped home while City's Laura Blindkilde Brown was down appealing for a free-kick.
That parity was short-lived, though, as Shaw blasted into the top corner from 25 yards out, taking her overall tally for this season to 12 goals in all competitions.
In Group C, meanwhile, Bayern Munich lost their perfect record as they played out a 1-1 draw with Valerenga, boosting Arsenal's hopes of topping the pile.
Jovana Damnjanovic came off the bench to put Bayern ahead 15 minutes from time in Norway, but Elise Thorsnes headed home following an 88th-minute corner to snatch a point for the hosts.
Arsenal could now move within a point of Bayern when they face Juventus in Group C's other match later on Thursday.
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