U21: Progress against the Netherlands – NFF

Under-21 team lost 0-1 against the Netherlands at La Manga tonight.

– I think it was a good football game. First Run was smooth, but after the break we dominated the ground game. We created more than Netherlands today and played a solid game against a good team. This match was a new proof that we have evolved further, says national coach Leif Gunnar Smerud to fotball.no.

– March is usually a tough time for us. Many of the players have just started the season and we met a team that is in the middle of their season. Compared with previous years, this was progress.

goal,

The Netherlands took the lead by Anwar Al-Ghazi after 22 minutes but it was Norway who had the first ball in the net.

– Alexander Sørloth won a duel with the keeper and has scored goals. The judge felt that he was not allowed to go in the failed and canceled the goal. That we do not understand so much of. Alexander is big and strong and for us as failed straightforward out, telling Smerud.

– Nederlands goal came after they played around the left side. Per Kristian Bråtveit warded cross into the box, but there appeared a flying Dutchman who pushed the ball over the line.

Norway was the best after the break but could not retrieve Nederlands management.

– It was a bit like against England in the European Championship qualifiers. We dominated at times but did not create enough chances. Meanwhile, the Netherlands effective, they scored on one of two chances. All credit to them. We are very pleased that we let them get chances, but we also see that we must be more effective. There are often few opportunities at this level and the best teams put their chances.

The case continues below

Ghayas Zahid. Photo: NTB Scanpix

Good public

Smerud satisfied with the culture which they have built in U21 squad in the past years.

– as so often before, the collective who came forward today. The interaction begins to sit and there were solid efforts across the board. These guys are loyal to our system while having space to unfold, he said.

Martin Ødegaard was taken down from the A-team for this match.

– Martin got 90 minutes against very good opposition today. We met players who play every day at a high level in the Netherlands and other good leagues. This was good and challenging matching for him.

Monday is Spain resistors in Murcia.

– It will probably be some changes to the game, we would like to see more players together, but we replacing not the whole team. We look at performance in combat and in training and decide over the weekend.

Netherlands – Norway 1-0 (1-0)
La Manga – orbit A

Goal: 1-0 Anwar Al-Ghazi (22)

Norwegian team : Per Kristian Worre Bråtveit – kristoffer haraldseid, Jonas Grønner (kpt), Ulrik Yttergård Jenssen, Thomas Grøgaard – Rafik Zekhnini, Fredrik Aursnes, Iver Fossum, Ghayas Zahid – Martin Ødegaard, Alexander Sørloth

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