Group Five: A demoralising week littered with infuriating withdrawals appears to have taken its toll on Berti Vogts. "We actually got through breakfast this morning without losing any more players," deadpanned the Scotland coach at his squad's training camp yesterday before erupting into near-hysterical glee. "I'm so pleased. That's superb. I'm very happy today."
Whether the German is as upbeat when his players board the plane for Moldova on Monday for their next qualifier will largely depend upon how a makeshift Scottish side fare at Hampden Park today.
To have contemplated a qualifier without so many senior players would have been unthinkable not long ago. Jackie McNamara, Malky Makay, Christian Dailly, Gavin Rae, Neil McCann, Lee Wilkie, Steven Pressley and Nigel Quashie will all be missing.
There is some cause for optimism, however, as Norway have never won at Hampden and, some 14 months ago, Vogts's side departed Oslo with a creditable goalless friendly draw to their name. The Norwegians appear to have regressed since then and failed to beat Belarus at home last month.
SCOTLAND (probable, 4-1-3-2): Gordon (Hearts); G Caldwell (Hibernian), Webster (Hearts), Anderson (Aberdeen), Naysmith (Everton); Holt (Norwich); Fletcher (Manchester United), Ferguson (Blackburn), McFadden (Everton); Dickov (Blackburn), Thompson (Rangers).
NORWAY (probable, 4-4-2): Myhre; Hoiland, Riseth, Lundekvam, Riise; Andresen, Hoseth, Johnsen, Pedersen; Carew, Iversen.
Referee: P Allaerts (Belgium).
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