Scotland squad for Norway

[markdickson]

Berti Vogts has named his strongest available squad for next week's international friendly against Norway, choosing 24 players including three each from Celtic and Rangers. Darren Fletcher is included in the A squad for the first time.

Scotland meet Norway at the Ullevaal Stadium in Oslo next Wednesday, 20 August, kick-off 8.00 pm (7 pm in Scotland, live on BBC 2 Scotland). This is the final preparation match before the Euro 2004 qualifying double header against Faroe Islands (Hampden, 6 September) and Germany (Dortmund, 10 September).

Despite speculation to the contrary, both Paul Lambert and Barry Ferguson are included in the squad, which meets up on Sunday night. Darren Fletcher and Brian Kerr are both promoted from the Under 21s, while the only notable absentees are Kenny Miller (still recovering from surgery) and Scot Gemmill (recently injured at Everton).

SCOTLAND SQUAD
Goalkeepers
Neil Alexander (Cardiff City)
Robert Douglas (Celtic)
Paul Gallacher (Dundee United)
Defenders
Graham Alexander (Preston North End)
Steven Caldwell (Newcastle United)
Steven Pressley (Heart of Midlothian)
Maurice Ross (Rangers)
Andy Webster (Heart of Midlothian)
Lee Wilkie (Dundee)
Midfield
Colin Cameron (Wolverhampton W.)
Christian Dailly (West Ham United)
Paul Devlin (Birmingham City)
Barry Ferguson (Rangers)
Darren Fletcher (Manchester United)
Brian Kerr (Newcastle United)
Paul Lambert (Celtic)
Jackie McNamara (Celtic)
Gary Naysmith (Everton)
Gavin Rae (Dundee)
Forwards
Stephen Crawford (Dunfermline Athletic)
Don Hutchison (West Ham United)
Neil McCann (Southampton)
James McFadden (Motherwell)
Steven Thompson (Rangers).

[markdickson]

Thompson, McFadden & McNamara out. Shaun Maloney called up from U-21s.

If I was Berti:

Douglas

Ross-Pressley-Webster-Naysmith

Devlin-Lambert-Ferguson-McCann

Crawford-Hutchison

Kids Kerr, Fletcher & Maloney on a half time.

[Parkhead_Faithful]

Thats a pretty reasonable looking squad if I do say so myself, it passes the first test anyway, there isnt a DIckov or a Gemmill in sight!

[markdickson]

It said on yesterday's Reporting Scotland that Dickov would play against the Faroes & Germany!!!

:(

[SJFC4ever]

That's OK as long as Berti doesn't play him on the right again, ;)

[markdickson]

Berti Vogts has selected nine of his starting eleven to face Norway at Oslo's Ullevaal Stadium tomorrow night. He will delay a choice of his front two until the day of the game.

Scotland will line up with Rab Douglas in goal, a back four of Maurice Ross, Steven Pressley, Andy Webster and Christian Dailly, the midfield will have Colin Cameron, Paul Lambert, Barry Ferguson and Gary Naysmith. His options up front include Neil McCann, Don Hutchison and Stevie Crawford, with
Shaun Maloney - a late call-up from the Under 21s in reserve.

The team trained this morning at the Bislett Stadium, better known as an athletics venue, and will train again at the match venue this evening. The rain is pouring down in Oslo, but is expected to improve for the match.

The Under 21s lost 2 goals late on to go down 3-1.