Victory gave answers – Fædrelandsvennen

COMMENT: Norway did the job and secured the victory. But Malta was so weak that triumph inconclusive on whether Norway is ready to fight for the European places.

we get a clearer picture of when Bulgaria comes at Ullevaal visit Monday. Until that time, I choose to watch the 3-0 victory over Malta as a necessary triumph against an opponent I doubt take many points, if any, in qualifying.

One of the bright spots seen with Norwegian eyes was that we finally saw a point with flair and eye for openings. Joshua King was Norway’s best player, was responsible for the preparatory work for the 1-0 goal for Mats Moller Dæhli, and even scored two fine goals. This approach can provide the necessary confidence for an attacker who has struggled to find its way to the net to Norway, although defense game for Malta’s part was on business football level by 3-0 goal.

Speed ​​and physics

Tips that scores have been clamoring in Norway for a long time, and only the next games will show if Joshua King also has the ability to strike when opponents are sharper. Friday used his speed and physics to create lots of trouble for Maltese.

Not least because Norway was smart and invited Malta into the game. Homemade got rolling some ball in the opening without creating large, and as long as Malta moved the team up the pitch, got rooms Norway efficiently utilized. Not least 0-2 goal when Joshua King rushed down and found weaknesses in Malta’s right.

The part of the game should Norway have put more weight on, but after the first two goal connected Norway hold and there was never any doubt about who would walk away with the points. Not least because Malta did not have anything other than a Michael Mifsud on top that ravaged Lillestrøm many years ago, and who now had neither quality or teammates who could help him to scare the Norwegian defense. That got a quiet day at work, which eventually came all the Norwegian team.

Good base

It provides a good base before meeting with Bulgaria. For it was none of the Norwegian players who had in the basement to find strength and triumph should also give the coaching staff is reason enough to send virtually the same team on the pitch in two games in a row when Norway face Bulgaria.

The fact that the chief has used 50 players in the first eight games, shows that he has searched far down in the stack to find the right constellations. It may have been useful for Høgmo for Friday, he chose a team that seemed to have the right balance.

Not least so did the central midfield duo Alexander Tettey and Stefan Johansen a solid job. Together controlled the game and had the physics to stave off Malta on the few occasions homemade strove themselves. Mats Moller scored Dæhli also his first land battles, and also showed against Malta that he can open defenses with his passing. And not least, ran behind the opposing defense, which he succeeded at goal.

Lift

Norway also had a Martin Ødegaard in reserve, but as Norway dominated the fight, there was no reason to to do anything other than to control the fight into a solid victory. The 15-year-old great talent can instead get to play a role against Bulgaria, a nation that is similar to being the leading rival for third place in the group behind the two favorites Italy and Croatia.

For this reason, Norway secure three points against Bulgaria must EM chances to be realistic.

Towards Malta we experienced something so rare that Norway dominated and controlled a fight. But we should not forget that it was the world’s 155 best soccer nation. The victory gave the matter a boost ahead of Norway duel against Bulgaria. Because Norway played a smart, tactical combat, and because Norway could finally go off without a goal. And not least because Norway had a peak in Joshua King showed glimpses of greatness.

A performance against Malta was good. But it must be up a couple of notches to be Norway chastise a good opponent Bulgaria.