Norway boss brands Scotland ‘unprofessional’ over cancelled friendly
Norway manager Stale Solbakken has branded Scotland “unprofessional” after Steve Clarke’s side abruptly cancelled a planned training-ground friendly ahead of the World Cup in North Carolina.
The behind-closed-doors fixture was scheduled to take place on Monday as both nations ramp up their tournament preparations in the United States.
However, the Scottish camp called off the encounter at short notice, citing minor injuries within their squad.
Solbakken demands personal contact
The late decision provoked a furious reaction from the Scandinavian setup, who were left scrambling to adjust their training schedule.
Solbakken expressed intense frustration after his side played out a 1-1 draw against Morocco, who are coincidentally drawn in Scotland’s World Cup group.
“It was at least as surprising to me, and it is unprofessional of Scotland,” Solbakken told Norwegian broadcaster NRK.
The Norwegian head coach was particularly aggrieved by the lack of direct communication from his opposite number.
“It is unprofessional that the coach has not called me, that they use the team manager and call and say it after we have finished training.”
Scotland cite injury caution
Norway’s backroom staff were equally scathing about the broken agreement.
Former Fulham defender Brede Hangeland, now serving as team manager for his country, labelled the late withdrawal as “embarrassing” and “weak”.
With both squads based just 90 miles apart in North Carolina, the logistical setup had been planned for many months.
Responding to the mounting criticism, the Scotland boss offered a brief defence of his cautious approach.
“It was just going to be a training game for an hour at our training ground,” Clarke told BBC Scotland.
“We picked up one or two niggles last week and decided it wasn’t worth the risk.”
Crucial tournament preparations
The dispute highlights the intense pressure international managers face to keep their squads fully fit on the eve of a major global tournament.
Clarke will be desperate to avoid any serious injuries to key personnel as the national team finalises tactical plans for a challenging group stage.