Landslagsets console Century – Dagsavisen

By Sjur Natvig

SOFIA: Total has his first 19 fights given four wins, six draws and nine losses ( target 14-30), but in European Championship qualifying, Norway has positive statistic: Three victories, one draw and two losses (7-8) in six games. In comparison, the 13 friendlies under Høgmo has given one win, five draws and seven losses (7-22).

It can be converted to a point average of 1.67 in fighting where it actually awarded points towards a potential point average of 0.62 in the fighting where it does not.

– We’ve been through a powerful generational and has a young player group. I have said to them that I have seen how each has taken steps over the last year. They are starting to get a little routine, and an increasing number of players on international higher level. When it is about practicing this, and we have chosen to play tough away games against teams like England and France to become accustomed to the kind of resistance, says Høgmo.

– Norway has not been in playoff in 15 years, and has struggled to perform in qualifying against good teams, but there is such practice to do that we ultimately come into the playoffs again.

Gets Better

In qualifying, Norway has lost clear to its two supposed best team (0-2 at home to Italy and 1-5 away against Croatia), but made 10 of 12 points against the other four.

The goalless home match against Azerbaijan, a battle in which Norway dominated and should have won clearly, the only blip in the fighting.

During the 13 training land battles Høgmo’s 2-1 victory over Moldova with league team in Abu Dhabi last year only victory.

– It is good that we have succeeded in important games, but there are small details in matches that will decide, and the total statistics could be improved. There is not much we get done with what has been, but I’m positive it’s going and feel that we are getting better and better, says Stefan Johansen said.

– There are very many young players here, who have the best years of his career ahead of him. We just have to give them time. It is also an incredibly important game against Bulgaria on Thursday and we like to go out and show that we are good enough to qualify.

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Per Ciljan Skjelbred is very aware that the team has managed to get controlled most of their victories to the important matches.

– It is what it is about. Now we have a big fight ahead of us, and against Bulgaria it is about to make things easy, do what we should and put the nail in the coffin, says team captain said.

This is Norway’s results so far in European Championship qualifiers:

* Italy 0-2 (h)

* Malta 3-0 (b)

* Bulgaria 1.2 (h)

* Azerbaijan 1-0 (b)

* Croatia 1-5 (b)

* Azerbaijan 0-0 (h).

Remaining games:

* 3/9 Bulgaria (b)

* 6/9 Croatia (h)

* 10/10 Malta (h)

* 13/10 Italy (b). (© NTB)