In circumstances where the visit of Norway to Hampden Park held meaning, the absence of Erling Haaland would lead to wild celebration within the Scotland camp. Instead, Steve Clarke has expressed his disappointment that the prolific Manchester City striker will miss out through injury as Group A rumbles to a close in Glasgow. As the public sighed, so, too, did Scotland’s management.
A knock to the foot, sustained in the victory over the Faroe Islands on Thursday, means Haaland will sit out the meeting. With the Norwegian Football Federation insisting Haaland’s injury is not serious it seems safe to assume he would have been risked were automatic qualification hopes for Euro 2024 still alive. Scotland and Spain will emerge from this section, meaning Hampden will host something of a victory parade for Clarke and his team.
