Angry Norwegians were taking potshots at Steve Clarke on day one of Scotland’s World Cup base camp in Charlotte. Stale Solbakken, the Norway head coach, called the Scottish manager “unprofessional” after he cancelled a training game between reserve players. Brede Hangeland, Norway’s team manager, chimed in with “embarrassing” and “weak”.
Three Norwegian reporters turned up at Scotland’s palatial base camp seeking Scottish retaliation. Instead they got John McGinn — not just super with the ball at his feet but nifty with a microphone too. “I would say 75% of the [Scotland] squad haven’t seen it,” said McGinn, smiling. He had seen the comments. “Our job is to look after Scotland. Norway’s job is to look after Norway.”
“John McGinn dismisses Norway's fury over cancelled friendly, saying Scotland prioritised safety after losing Billy Gilmour.”
McGinn pointed out that Scotland lost Billy Gilmour “very, very close to this camp”, which had “a huge impact on everyone”. With other niggles and not everyone training, Clarke decided to protect his squad. “It’s a professional way of handling things, to be perfectly honest, and look after number one,” McGinn said. “If Norway lost Erling Haaland or Martin Odegaard in one of the games leading up to Saturday, they would cancel the game as well.”
The 32-year-old, who has scored 20 goals in 86 caps, was in sparkling form — funny, thoughtful and deep on his football upbringing and the 25ft mural painted on a house in his hometown of Clydebank. It is the third such tribute after Scott McTominay’s overhead kick against Denmark on a tenement near Hampden and Andy Robertson’s on a house near Anfield. “It’s a bit strange, but obviously it filled me with pride to see it,” said McGinn. “All my little cousins, my nieces and…”
If Scotland hit the mark in their upcoming matches the way McGinn handled the media, this could be a special World Cup for Steve Clarke’s side.