“It reeks not just European Cup crew to Høgmo” ​​- Fædrelandsvennen

It helps little to have more option, while målteften fails at any point choices, writes Tore Strand.

NORWAY – AZERBAIJAN 0-0

Much may indicate that 0-0 against Azerbaijan will be remembered as the battle that stopped the Norwegian EM chances. To squandered two points against one of the weakest teams in the group – and it hjemembane – is usually not good enough for those who want to playoffs.

It’s a long time since Norway has participated in something like that, and further it can be if not Norway nurtures sharpener with flair. International flair.

It helps little to bucket into goals in a not quality strong Norwegian league, as long as one does not succeed in EM games. Therefore, a hard to imagine why the focus on an Alexander Søderlund that after nineteen caps has not scored a single goal for Norway. And why the coaching staff decide to take out a forward and swap an extra midfielder while Norway chased a goal, was also tricky to understand.

The fact that neither Joshua King, Søderlund or substitute Amada Diomande, and feel free to Pål André Helland, scorer, has a lack of quality to do. Norway has long lacked strikers who score regularly at this level. Therefore fights Island at the top of their group, while Norway teetering along and must rely mostly on hope, faith and a little improbable feats in the next matches.

The fact that the strikers not struck, however, was not the biggest disappointment Friday night . The downturn was called initially. It’s almost hard to believe that Norway were acting as passive in front of an almost full set Ullevaal. Norway let Azerbaijan get rolling ball in their own ranks, and their captain RASADE Sadiqov appeared as the cleanest Beckenbauer simply because Norway never pushed guests properly.

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Most voiced bad for Norway before the break. After an opening where some long passes gave opportunities for Joshua King, fell Norway down at a pace that neither benefited offensively or defensively. The lack of aggressiveness led to Azerbaijan in much of the ball could roll ball without Norway was high enough to create trouble for the guests.

Robert Prosinecki has supplied Azerbaijan one new dimension to play more direct, and variation in their way of attacking gave occasionally trouble for Norway. Not least had Tom Høgli major problems on their side, but Azerbaijan lacked enough quality in front of goal to give Ørjan Nyland trouble.

As many chances created nor Norway in a game there as well set pieces went everywhere and anywhere torment. Bring that Norway’s most creative players Martin Ødegaard and Stefan Johansen was helpless and anonymous, so it was one of the saddest rounds a Norwegian national team has performed at home for a long time.

It came out after the break, not least because Martin Ødegaard got room to romp in. But even then he found Pål André Helland with an exquisite pass, there was no goal. Helland blew the ball over, and then Even Hovland his head to the bar shortly after, vanished the last hope of victory for Norway.

As long as Bulgaria won away against Malta, the Bulgarians was behind Norway which now relies on resulting in Sofia, or against the top teams in the remaining matches should Norway secure third place which gives the right to qualification.

It will keep hard after the helpless and goalless draw against Azerbaijan. There is talk of margins after the match, but one can also use the allegation of lack of quality. Not least in the forefront. When Norway has only scored seven goals in six games and failed to outwit an ordinary team that Azerbaijan, as it oozes not just European Cup of the crew to the coaching staff.