Clarke is likely to stick with the 4-2-3-1 formation that has served Scotland well in the opening two qualifiers.David Marshall will start in goal, with a back four of Kieran Tierney, Cooper, Scott McKenna and Stephen O’Donnell.Callum McGregor and John McGinn will be the two holding midfielders, with Ryan Fraser, Ryan Christie and Stuart Armstrong playing behind lone striker Lyndon Dykes.
Preview: Scotland vs Norway Euro 2024 Qualifier
Introduction
Scotland will face Norway in the Euro 2024 Qualifier on Saturday 17th June at Ullevaal Stadion in Oslo. Steve Clarke’s Scotland team currently sit top of Group A following home wins over Cyprus and top seeds Spain. Norway are five points behind after a loss in Spain and a draw away to Georgia.
Erling Haaland
Talk of the superstar striker Erling Haaland has dominated the build up to Saturday’s Euro 2024 qualifier in Oslo. Haaland was absent for the opening double-header but is fit to face Scotland after scoring 52 goals on his way to a Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League treble with Manchester City.
Steve Clarke’s Strategy
Scotland manager Steve Clarke is stressing the need to focus on “Norway the team” rather than fixating on how to stop Erling Haaland. Asked about plans to combat Haaland, Clarke said: “As we always do, we concentrate on ourselves. We prepare properly for the game, we respect our opponents. We play Norway the team, and hopefully Scotland the team are a little bit better on the night.”
Liam Cooper’s Perspective
Scotland defender Liam Cooper added that Haaland had enjoyed “an unbelievable season” before saying: “But I don’t like to disrespect the Norway team, they have a lot of good players and to put all our focus on one player, I think that would be wrong of us. Obviously (Martin) Odegaard is a very good player, he has also been in a title challenge this year [with Arsenal]. They have got amazing players. We have to keep Erling and Odegaard in check, but there’s a lot of other players to worry about as well.”
Team News
Scotland are without injured striker Che Adams and centre-half Grant Hanley, while uncapped Aberdeen defender Ross McCrorie was called up to replace Anthony Ralston. Feyenoord right-back Marcus Pedersen is missing for Norway.
Clarke is likely to stick with the 4-2-3-1 formation that has served Scotland well in the opening two qualifiers. David Marshall will start in goal, with a back four of Kieran Tierney, Cooper, Scott McKenna and Stephen O’Donnell. Callum McGregor and John McGinn will be the two holding midfielders, with Ryan Fraser, Ryan Christie and Stuart Armstrong playing behind lone striker Lyndon Dykes.
Conclusion
Scotland will wear black armbands in memory of Gordon McQueen who died this week, with Clarke calling the former international defender “a giant of a man”. With both teams having their own strengths and weaknesses, Saturday’s game promises to be an exciting encounter with both teams looking to gain an advantage in Group A.
Coverage
Listen on BBC Radio Scotland Extra, follow live text coverage on the BBC Sport website & app, watch highlights on BBC One Scotland & BBC iPlayer