John McGinn Backs Steve Clarke Amid Criticism from Norway’s Stale Solbakken

Scotland midfielder John McGinn has come to the defense of manager Steve Clarke after he was labeled “unprofessional” by Norway’s head coach, Stale Solbakken.

The Tartan Army is gearing up for their first World Cup appearance in 28 years, having secured victories against Curacao and Bolivia in preparation.

However, due to several injury concerns, Clarke made the decision to cancel a scheduled behind-closed-doors friendly with Norway at short notice, prompting sharp criticism from Solbakken and team manager Brede Hangeland, who called the situation “embarrassing.”.

During a press conference on Monday, McGinn supported Clarke’s decision, emphasizing the importance of prioritizing Scotland’s needs.

McGinn Responds to Solbakken’s Remarks

McGinn pointed out that Scotland has already faced a significant setback with the knee injury of Billy Gilmour during the match against Curacao.

He stated: “Our job is to look after Scotland; Norway’s job is to look after Norway. If they’ve done their research, they would know we lost a very important part of the squad very close to this camp, which had a huge impact on everyone. We didn’t want to lose another player. We’ve had a few niggles, and not everyone has been training. I think it’s a professional way of handling things, to be perfectly honest. We have to look after number one, and I’m sure every single country will be doing the exact same this summer.”.

Upcoming Match for Scotland

Looking ahead, Scotland is set to face Haiti in their World Cup opener on June 14 at an early hour (BST). The outcome of this match could be crucial for their chances of progressing in the tournament, making it essential for Clarke to make decisions that safeguard his squad.