Thompson dismisses Riise comments

From Sky Sports

Thompson dismisses Riise comments

by Michael Wise - Last Updated 8 Oct 2004

Scotland striker Steve Thompson has dismissed comments made by Norway's John Arne Riise that Saturday's World Cup qualifier will be "a war" by countering that Scotland "will do our talking on the pitch".

Riise's attempt to talk up the Hampden Park encounter - he said it will contain "kicking, fighting and tackling" - left the Rangers man distinctly unimpressed.

Thompson said that, although he relished the prospect of a physical match with the Norwegians, he wanted the game to be a clean one.

"I do enjoy a physical tussle from time to time but we will wait and see who (manager) Berti (Vogts) selects and whoever he selects I'm sure will be up for the challenge," he said.

The 25-year-old may privately be considering that he will be the man Berti Vogts selects. As well as having the physical presence to cause the Nowegian defence problems, he has impressed in what - by their high standards at least - has been a slow start for the Ibrox giants.

However, Thompson is keeping any such thoughts to himself, and publicly insists that competition is strong among the Scotland forwards to catch the eye of their boss.

"Kenny Miller has been scoring a lot of goals and Paul Dickov has been in excellent form, as has Stevie Crawford and the rest of the strikers," he said.