Norway boss brands Scotland's Clarke 'unprofessional'

Steve Clarke has been branded "unprofessional" by Norway counterpart Stale Solbakken after the Scotland head coach cancelled a training-ground friendly as both sides prepare for the start of the World Cup.

With both squads based in North Carolina, the game was planned for Monday, but the Norwegian Football Federation announced on Sunday it had been called off because of injuries in the Scotland camp.

Clarke later confirmed to BBC Scotland: "It was just going to be a training game for an hour at our training ground. We picked up one or two niggles last week and decided it wasn't worth the risk."

But, after Norway's 1-1 draw with Scotland's Group C opponents Morocco in Sunday's public friendly, Solbakken described it as "surprising" when talking to Norwegian broadcaster NRK.

"It is unprofessional of Scotland," he said. "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.

"I don't think the injuries they're blaming came from the last training session. That's not the case. It's disappointing. It's unprofessional.

"But we have to live with that. That's why we adjusted a bit in the game."

Norway kick-off their Group I campaign against Iraq next Tuesday, three days after Scotland face Haiti in Group C.