Steve Clarke’s Scotland have been forced to scrap a behind-closed-doors training match with Norway just seven days before their World Cup opener, as injury fears ripple through the squad following their emphatic 4-0 win over Bolivia.
The cancellation, confirmed by Norwegian FA media manager Morten Morisbak Skjonsberg, leaves Scotland’s final preparations in doubt. “It is a poorly kept secret that we were supposed to play a training match against Scotland on Monday,” he said. “Today we learned that Scotland unfortunately had to withdraw from the agreement due to injuries.” Norway boss Stale Solbakken said the change means he will “make more changes in our game against Morocco.”
“Scotland cancel behind-closed-doors Norway friendly days before World Cup opener due to injury fears.”
The development comes after Scotland produced a stunning first-half display against Bolivia at the Sports Illustrated Stadium on Saturday, scoring four goals to send a statement ahead of their Group C campaign. “For once, I got everything I asked for – no injuries, a performance and a good result,” Clarke told BBC Scotland. Yet within hours, those injury fears surfaced, forcing the Norway fixture to be scratched.
Clarke now faces a selection headache following that win. “I’ve got some decisions to make,” he admitted. “The starting XI becomes a fixation, but this is a tournament for your finishing XI.” One key call is in goal: Angus Gunn, confirmed as Scotland’s number one when squad numbers were locked in, played the full 90 against Bolivia and made one notable save. The alternative, 43-year-old Craig Gordon – who will be the oldest player at the World Cup – played 77 minutes in a previous warm-up against Curacao and struggled with a shoulder injury last season. Both goalkeepers have had limited club minutes this season.
Clarke insisted the team is as prepared as possible. “We are as well prepared as we can be at this stage,” he said. “Obviously, you don’t always get everything you want in terms of preparation. We went to Florida for heat and humidity and we got the humidity but a lot of rain. We probably didn’t get the heat we expected but we got that heat in the first half today and I thought we handled it well.”
Scotland will now turn their attention to Sunday’s World Cup opener against Haiti in Foxborough. They must also face Morocco and Brazil in Group C. With the Norway friendly cancelled, Clarke will rely on his squad’s sharpness from the Bolivia win and the week ahead. “As much as we have done up until now then we have prepared as well as we can and we will prepare well this week and make sure we start the tournament well,” he said.