THERE are times when it is reasonable to wonder whether Scotland fans' reputation for passionate support might actually work to the team's disadvantage.
Norway have arrived in Glasgow apparently relishing the thought of a full-house at Hampden Park, and a partisan crowd. Age Hareide, who led Norway to victory in Glasgow against Berti Vogts' Scotland four years ago, expressed the wish yesterday that "
all stadiums in the world were like Hampden Park".
He bracketed the stadium with those such as Anfield, Old Trafford and the Nou Camp and was clearly excited by the prospect of a return, even with a relatively inexperienced side.
Hareide proved genial company despite the continued doubt over injured striker Steffen Iversen, who scored the winning goal at Hampden in a 1-0 World Cup qualifying victory for Norway in 2004. Iversen has a leg injury and the player himself said yesterday there was still a "big question mark" over whether he will be able to partner John Carew in attack or not. He is, however, determined to be fit, since the Rosenborg striker also gushed about appearing at the home of Scottish football.
"The last time I was here I think it was one of the most memorable games I have played in many, many years," Iversen said yesterday. "The atmosphere was fantastic. The Norwegian people should be jealous that they can't make the same noise. I would rather play here than at home sometimes."
He added that he would give himself every chance to take part tomorrow, but was wary of making the injury worse with another crucial qualifying match to come against the Netherlands on Wednesday.
"I have made good progress over the last few days, but I am still not training properly," he said. "There is a big question mark whether I can play on Saturday.
"I won't take a gamble, and neither will the team," he said. "I have to be 100 per cent if I want to be able to play on Saturday. This injury could get a lot worse if I am unlucky and keep me out for weeks and weeks."
Hareide admitted Iversen would be the biggest loss of those who have pulled out from his squad so far, including fellow striker Mohammed Abdellaoue and midfielders Martin Andresen, Per Ciljan Skjelbred and Vladimir Demidov. "It is a big disappointment he has this injury," said Hareide. "But we just have to hope. We will leave it until Saturday."
Norway are at home to the Netherlands in midweek but the manager claimed he did not have one eye on that fixture.
"Iversen will play at Hampden if he is fit," he said. "I will risk him. It is so important. This could be the key game, if we are heading for the (runners'-up] spot behind Holland. Both Norway and Scotland need the points."
Hareide looked forward to returning to Hampden, where he silenced the crowd in 2004. "It lifts the players if they play in a good atmosphere," he said. "It will lift the Scotland players because it is their home ground. But in my experience players who come to a ground like Hampden are lifted by the enthusiasm of the crowd. It's only natural. We should wish that all the stadiums in the world were like Hampden."
The full article contains 557 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
