3<\/p>\n Clarke decided the risk would not be worth the reward against NorwayCredit: Getty<\/p>\n Clarke pulled the plug on the match amid fears of losing players to injury on the eve of the tournament,<\/a> something which the likes of Germany, Argentina and the Netherlands have all succumbed to.<\/p>\n The Scots<\/a> are not alone on that front, with star midfielder Billy Gilmour ruled out of the World Cup<\/a> due to a knee injury sustained in a friendly against Curacao. <\/p>\n Knowing Scotland couldn’t afford to be without another key player for their first World Cup since 1998, McGinn was ready to back his manager’s decision.<\/p>\n McGinn: Scotland ‘didn’t want to lose another player’<\/p>\n “Our job is to look after Scotland,” McGinn said in a press conference.<\/p>\n Read more football news<\/p>\n “Norway’s job is to look after Norway.<\/p>\n “And if they’ve done their research, we lost a very important part of our squad very, very close to this camp.<\/p>\n “That had a huge impact on everyone.<\/p>\n “We didn’t want to lose another player. We’ve had a few niggles and not everyone has been training.<\/p>\n “So I think it’s a professional way of handling things, to be perfectly honest, to look after number one.<\/p>\n “And I’m sure every single country will be doing exactly the same thing.”<\/p>\n 3<\/p>\n McGinn went in to bat for his gaffer amid Solbakken’s swipeCredit: Getty<\/p>\n Earlier, Solbakken expressed his frustration he did not receive so much as a phone call from Clarke<\/a> regarding the game’s cancellation.<\/p>\n Bak in my day<\/p>\n “It was at least as surprising to me, and it is unprofessional of Scotland,” Solbakken said.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is unprofessional that the coach has not called me, that they use the team manager and call and say it after we have finished\u00a0training.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t think the\u00a0injuries\u00a0they\u2019re blaming came from the last training session. That\u2019s not the case.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s disappointing. It\u2019s unprofessional. But we have to\u00a0live\u00a0with that.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s why we adjusted a bit in the game against\u00a0Morocco.<\/p>\n![\"Scotland](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/manager-steve-clarke-team-scotland-1086327630.jpg\")
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