Norwich City’s captain Kenny McLean faced a tough outing at Hampden Park as Scotland fell to a narrow 1-0 defeat against Japan in their recent friendly. Despite McLean’s solid performance throughout the match, the Scottish side struggled to convert their chances, with Junya Ito sealing victory for Japan with a goal in the 84th minute.
Having already secured qualification for this summer’s World Cup, Scotland is using these friendly matches to fine-tune their squad ahead of the tournament. Their next fixture is set against the Ivory Coast at Everton’s Hill Dickinson stadium on Tuesday evening. McLean and his teammates will be keen to bounce back from this disappointment and showcase their potential. Read more about Jones Signs New Deal as Norwich Secure Striker's Future.
In his post-match remarks, McLean expressed his frustration with the result but highlighted the importance of these preparatory games. He said, “We’ve got another three (games) before the tournament starts so it’s about preparation and doing as much as we can. We would like to have been a bit better and obviously disappointed not to win back here.” Read more about McLean Targets World Cup Glory as Norwich's Scotland Star.
In other international action, fellow Norwich player Ali Ahmed featured for Canada, playing 63 minutes in an exciting 2-2 draw against Iceland in Toronto. Canada found themselves two goals down at half-time but mounted a remarkable comeback, scoring two late penalties to level the match. They are set to face Tunisia, which includes Norwich midfielder Anis Ben Slimane, in the early hours of Wednesday morning (UK time).
Additionally, Jose Cordoba played the full match as Panama drew 1-1 with South Africa on Friday night. Both teams are scheduled to meet again on Tuesday, adding further intrigue to the international fixtures.
As these matches unfold, Norwich City supporters are keenly observing the performances of their players, eager for them to make an impact on the international stage.