Norway faced a difficult start to their international schedule. With two of the Premier League’s biggest stars, Martin Ødegaard of Arsenal and Erling Haaland of Manchester City, the nation still finds itself on the edge of missing another major tournament, Euro 2024. The national team had hoped to build momentum, but the path remains challenging as the qualification campaign moves toward a critical stretch.
Relating to
Despite featuring stars such as Sorloth from Villarreal and Aursnes from Benfica, Norway faces elimination should they lose to Spain this Sunday, and even a draw would complicate their chances. They also missed out on Euro 2021 and the World Cup in Qatar in 2022.
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The opportunity to reach the playoffs slipped away after Norway finished their UEFA Nations League group in second place, trailing behind Serbia.
Martin Ødegaard addressed the press conference, admitting that a clear answer was not yet on the table. He stressed that the team would not wave the flag yet and that there is still a path to victory in the final two qualifiers against Spain and Scotland in Glasgow.
Ødegaard acknowledged a rough start to the group, with difficult fixtures against Scotland and Georgia, but he remained hopeful for the future. He spoke of growth, development, and learning, and Haaland added that everything needed to be aligned to maximize potential across the squad.
Norway is a young squad that believes consolidation can come from the strong results recorded by the other teams in the system. For instance, the under-19 side reached the European Championship semi-finals, a sign of talent rising through the ranks.
Without being angry at Madrid
Regarding the time at Real Madrid, the midfielder reflected on it without bitterness. He stated that leaving when the opportunity arose was the right move and that the experience helped him grow as a player and a person. He emphasized that there is no desire for revenge when facing the Spanish club, and that La Liga experience has contributed to reaching his current level.
On a personal note, he spoke about maintaining focus and confidence, suggesting that the journey through that chapter was essential to his present form.
Aries, strong
If the coach is Ståle Solbakken, the coach admitted that the situation was disappointing and that the results placed the team in a precarious position. Solbakken still believes Norway can beat Spain, noting that they have shown good phases at home. He praised Spain for their ball control and aggressive pressure in defense, while remaining realistic about the challenges ahead.
He mentioned that a few players were dealing with colds but expressed confidence that the full squad would be available for the upcoming match against Spain.