Norway national team - qualification for UEFA Euro 2008

[gelur1]

Hareide resigns as national team coach

Åge Hareide, coach of Norway's national football team, has decided to resign with immediate effect.



Åge Hareide is no longer the coach of Norway's national team.

The decision was made only two months before Norway's opening match in the UEFA Eurp 2008 qualifing Group C against Hungary on September 2.

- I have coached our national team for three years without qualifying for a major tournament, and because of lack of progress I feel that I will not be able to lead the team to UEFA Euro 2008. I am looking for a new challenge, but I sincerely hope that my successor will be able to lead our nation to the Euros, Hareide told VG after the press conference this afternoon.

Norwegian football analysists have already began speculating who might become Norway's new coach. Nils Johan Semb and Egil "Drillo" Olsen are among the biggest favourites for the vacant position.

[gelur1]

"Drillo" hired as new national team coach

Following Åge Hareide's surprising resign as coach for Norway's national team, these has been a huge debate in Norwegian media about who will become our new national team coach. Now the decision has been made: It's Egil "Drillo" Olsen.



Egil "Drillo" Olsen, Norway's new national team coach.

"Drillo" coached the national team during a golden age from 1990 to 1994, leading the team to the 1994 and 1998 World Cups. Eight years after leaving in 1998, he is eager to start the UEFA Euro 2008 qualification campaign:

- It will be a challenge taking over a team which has not been performing too well lately, but I have always loved the national team and if the players are willing to lisen to my advice and adjust themselves to my type of football, I sincerely believe that we have a good chance to qualify for the European Championships in 2008, "Drillo" told VG earlier today.

In a month from now, on September 2, Norway will start their qualifying campaign with a visit away to Hungary. The other teams in Norway's Group C are Bosnia and Hercegovina, Greece, Malta, Moldova and Turkey.

[gelur1]

Norway national football team




Association: Norwegian Football Association (Norges Fotballforbund)
Confederation: UEFA (Europe)
Head coach: Egil "Drillo" Olsen
Assistant coach: Ola By Rise
Captain: Brede Hangeland
Most caps: Thorbjørn Svenssen (104)
Top scorer: Jørgen Juve (33)
Home stadium: Ullevaal Stadion, Oslo

Important players

Goalkeepers

Rune Jarstein
Thomas Myhre
Håkon Opdal

Defenders

Brede Hangeland
John Arne Riise
Jon Inge Høiland
Tom Høgli
Erik Hagen

Midfielders

Fredrik Strømstad
Martin Andresen
Morten Gamst Pedersen
Jan Gunnar Solli

Strikers

John Carew
Thorstein Helstad

[gelur1]

Match Preview

Hungary vs. Norway

New Norway manager Egil "Drillo" Olsen will get his first test away against Hungary at the Ferenc Puskas Stadium in Budapest. Both teams have injury-free line-ups, and both teams will want to get a good start to their respective UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying campaigns.

Hungary's defence had a hard time during the 2006 and 2004 qualifying campaigns, and Norway's star striker John Carew will hope to capitalise on this in the form of goals. Norway's biggest problem is the lack of chemistry in the team, In many maches of Hareide's era the players just weren't able to find each other properly. Can "Drillo"'s "hit and run" tactics help making the team chemistry better?



Norway will rely heavily on John Carew in the attack against Hungary.

Hungary aren't an attacking force and because of this Norway's experienced defenders Brede Hangeland and John Arne Riise, they should have little trouble dealing with the Hungarian strikers on paper. But the game is not played on paper, and the Norwegians will need to take the Hungarian team seriously, or else it may backfire with goals from the Hungarian team.



All in all, it should be a pretty easy game for Norway if they do not underestimae the Hungarians. Norway's players are good individually but lacks chemistry, so it is important to play wisely,not only relying on flashy tricks. If they can manage that, the three points should be pretty much sealed for Norway.

[gelur1]

UEFA Euro 2008
Qualifying Group C

Hungary vs. Norway

4 Hungary have the first chance of the match when Tamas Priskin breaks through after a brilliant through ball from captain Zoltan Gera. Priskin comes on-on-one with the GK Opdal, but the Hungarian shot goes via the post to a goal kick.

11 Norway's Morten Gams Pedersen was brought down at about 25 yards from Hungary's goal. John Carew's free kick went just above the crossbar.

19 Hungary's Zoltan Gera is tackled by Hangeland inside the penalty box, the Hungarians applie for a penalty but the ref says "play on".

25 - GOOOAL FOR NORWAY! Once again Gamst Pedersen is tackled by a Hungarian, but this time Carew's free kick goes via the wall and into Hungary's low left corner. 1-0 to Norway!

31 The Hungarian GK fails to hold Martin Andresen's shot but Helstad's rebound shot goes out via the GK's legs to a corner.

40 - GOOOAL FOR HUNGARY! Out of nothing Hungary get a counter-attack, Gera passes to Gergely Rudolf who made no mistake alone with keeper Opdal.

NEITHER TEAMS MADE SUBSTITUTIONS DURING HALF-TIME.

54 Norway want more offensive strenght, substituting midfielder Andresen for striker Ødegaard, switching to 4-3-3.

60 - GOOOAL FOR HUNGARY! After a corner midfielder Zoltan Gera heads the ball past everyone to make it 2-1 to the home team.Norway are in serious trouble.

72 - GOOOAL FOR NORWAY! Gamst Pedersen dribbles two Hungarians before passing to Carew, who lobs it over the GK to make it an easy tap-in for Alexander Ødegaard.

80 Opdal can not hold Priskin's shot, and the following shot gets a few inches wide.

86 - GOOOAL FOR NORWAY! Juhasz tries to pass the ball back to his own GK,who fumbles with the ball at his feet. Carew is quick to snap the ball and scores easily in an open net. A terrible mistake from the Hungarians.

THE GAME IS OVER, IT ENDS 3-2 TO NORWAY.

[OldGreg12]

Nice.
I like it.
What happened to Stephen Iversen.
Used to be my favourite player at Tottenham

[xRonaldinhox10x]

Try to not use black writing and good luck..

[gelur1]

Originally Posted by OldGreg12

Nice.
I like it.
What happened to Stephen Iversen.
Used to be my favourite player at Tottenham

Thanks mate.

Steffen Iversen has played for Rosenborg since 2006, after leaving Spurs he also played for Wolverhampton Wanderers and Vålerenga for a few seasons.

If it wasn't for injuries he could have been as good as Solskjær IMO, but Iversen has been quite unlucky in his career. His father is a legend in Norway but Steffen never was as good as his father IMO.

@xRonaldinhox10x: Yes, I think I touched a button or something, do you know how to make the text white again? No, I managed to fix it.

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Next part: The manager's reactions from Hungary match.

[gelur1]

"Drillo": - It was a lucky win

Norway's national coach Egil "Drillo" Olsen characterised the 3-2 win against Hungary as "lucky" when speaking to the press right after tonight's game.



"Drillo" wasn't too happy about Norway's defense in today's game.

- The Hungarians dominated the game at times, they could have gone 1-0 up already after 4 minutes and I'm concerned that better teams will score in such situations early on in a game. Soon we will have tough games vs. Greece and Turkey, with all due respect these teams are much better than Hungary and we might not be as lucky as we were tonight, in those games. Carew and Ødegaard found each other well in the attack, so praise tothem, but defensively we will have to improve a lot. Overall I think we had a lucky win today, winning against some of the other teams will be much harder, "Drillo" said after the game.

[Harald]

Hey nice to see some Norwegian "mm's" here. Gotta be the first one! KIU

[gelur1]

UEFA Euro 2008 Qualifying Group C

September 2

Malta - Bosnia and Hercegovina 0-3
Hungary - Norway 2-3
Moldova - Greece 1-3

Bosnia and Hercegovina....1...1...0...0...3 - 0...3
Greece...............................1...1...0...0 ...3 - 1...3
Norway..............................1...1...0...0. ..3 - 2...3
Turkey.................................0...0...0.. .0...0 - 0...0
Hungary.............................1...0...0...1. ..2 - 3...0
Moldova............................1...0...0...1.. .1 - 3...0
Malta.................................1...0...0... 1...0 - 4...0

September 6

Norway - Moldova
Turkey - Malta
Bosnia and Hercegovina - Hungary

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@ADude: Takk for støtten / Thanks for your support.

[gelur1]

Match highlights
Norway vs. Moldova

8 Moldova's Cebotaru heads the ball inches wide after a good cross from the right wing.

15 Norway get their first major chance, with a long shot from John Carew, aiming for the top tight corner. However, the ball is fisted away by the Moldovan goalkeeper for a corner.

22 - GOOOAL FOR MOLDOVA! A disaster for Norway as the Moldovans get the first goal of the match. Cebotaru takes the ball from Andresen in the midfield and passes it to striker Bugaev, who puts it in the left-hand corner from right outside the penalty box.

33 - GOOOAL FOR NORWAY! The home team strikes back! Norway get a corner after a deflected shot, Riise passes the ball to Andresen who crosses it to Carew, the striker heads the ball down below the keeper. 1-1!

41 - Moldova have a good chance as a long-range shot from Alexeev goes via the right post and out for a goal kick.

HALF TIME: 1-1. NO SUBSTITUTIONS.

60 - GOOOAL FOR NORWAY! Fredrik Strømstad gets his firs goal of the campaign as Norway get a free kick near the left corner flag. John Arne Riise crosses the ball to Strømstad who is quick enough to get his foot on it, giving Norway the lead.

71 -Moldova's Alexeev puts the ball in the net after a cross, but the goalis disallowed because of Alexeev being offside.

87 - GOOOAL FOR NORWAY! Martin Andresen secures Norway the win near the end of a mostly uneventful second half. Gamst Pedersen sees Andresen on a run, Gamst Pedersen makes a through pass and Andresen makes no mistake.

THE MATCH ENDS 3-1 TO NORWAY, THREE IMPORTANT POINTS!

[gelur1]

UEFA Euro 2008 Qualifying Group C

September 2

Malta - Bosnia and Hercegovina 0-3
Hungary - Norway 2-3
Moldova - Greece 1-3

September 6

Norway - Moldova 3-1
Turkey - Malta 5-0
Bosnia and Hercegovina - Hungary 2-2

Norway..............................2...2...0...0. ..6 - 3...6
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Bosnia and Hercegovina...2...1...1...0...5 - 2...4
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Turkey.................................1...1...0.. .0...5 - 1...3
Greece...............................1...1...0...0 ...3 - 1...3
Hungary.............................2...0...1...1. ..4 - 5...1
Moldova............................2...0...0...2.. .2 - 6...0
Malta.................................2...0...0... 2...0 - 9...0

October 7

Moldova - Bosnia and Hercegovina
Hungary - Turkey
Greece - Norway

[gelur1]

"Drillo": - The Greece game will be our first real test

According to Norway's coach, Egil "Drillo" Olsen, the game vs. Greece in Athens on October 7 will be the national team's first real test in the UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying campaign.




"Drillo" focused on the upcoming Greece game at today's press conference.

- With all due respect, our first two opponents have been relatively weak on paper, and despite our team chemistry wasn't too good, we managed to win against them both. Greece are much tougher, they are the reigning European champions and on a good day Rehhagel is a tactical genius. I believe that we should be satisfied with one point in Athens, seven points from three games is good, but of course we'll do everything we can to take home all three points, "Drillo" said during a press conference earlier today.

[gelur1]

6 - GOOOAL FOR GREECE! The Greeks get a wonderful start to the match, with Basinas heading a cross after acorner kick hard and low into Opdal's net.

15 Carew's free kick goes right over the crossbar, a good chance for Norway.

27 A shot from Charisteas hits a Norwegian player and almost deflects into the goal, but Opdal is quick to punch it away.

42 Martin Andresen's cross is headed by Carew via the crossbar and out.

HALF TIME: GREECE - NORWAY 1-0.

59 - GOOOAL FOR GREECE! As Opdal tries throwing the ball to a defender Charisteas snatches the ball, Opdal can't hold the Greek shot and it's 2-0 for the home side.

75 - GOOOAL FOR GREECE! Norway's Erik Hagen is really unlucky, heading a Greek cross into his own net, making it 3-0 for the Greeks.

FULL TIME: GREECE- NORWAY 3-0.

[gelur1]

UEFA Euro 2008 Qualifying Group C

September 2

Malta - Bosnia and Hercegovina 0-3
Hungary - Norway 2-3
Moldova - Greece 1-3

September 6

Norway - Moldova 3-1
Turkey - Malta 5-0
Bosnia and Hercegovina - Hungary 2-2

October 7

Moldova - Bosnia and Hercegovina 2-1
Hungary - Turkey 0-3
Greece - Norway 3-0

Turkey.................................2...2...0.. .0...8 - 1...6
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Greece...............................2...2...0...0...6 - 1...6
----------------------------------------------------------
Norway..............................3...2...0...1. ..6 - 6...6
Bosnia and Hercegovina...3...1...1...1...6 - 4...4
Moldova............................3...1...0...2.. .4 - 7...3
Hungary.............................3...0...1...2. ..4 - 8...1
Malta.................................2...0...0... 2...0 - 9...0

October 11

Malta - Hungary
Turkey - Moldova
Bosnia and Hercegovina - Greece

[Chelsea11]

how did you get Malta,Bosnia and Herzegovina and Moldova? Or are oyu just making them up?

[Harald]

No This was our qualifying group for the EC in real life.

[gelur1]

UEFA Euro 2008 Qualifying Group C

September 2

Malta - Bosnia and Herzegovina 0-3
Hungary - Norway 2-3
Moldova - Greece 1-3

September 6

Norway - Moldova 3-1
Turkey - Malta 5-0
Bosnia and Herzegovina - Hungary 2-2

October 7

Moldova - Bosnia and Herzegovina 2-1
Hungary - Turkey 0-3
Greece - Norway 3-0

October 11

Malta - Hungary 0-1
Turkey - Moldova 3-0
Bosnia and Hercegovina - Greece 2-3

Turkey.................................3...3...0.. .0...8 - 1...9
----------------------------------------------------------
Greece...............................3...3...0...0...9 - 3...9
----------------------------------------------------------
Norway..............................3...2...0...1. ..6 - 6...6
Bosnia and Herzegovina...4...1...1...2...7 - 7...4
Moldova...........................4...1...0...3... 4 - 10...3
Hungary............................4...0...2...2.. .5 - 8...2
Malta................................3...0...0...3 ...0 - 10...0

March 24

Moldova - Malta
Norway - Bosnia and Herzegovina
Greece - Turkey

[gelur1]

Norway - Bosnia and Herzegovina

5 Norway gets the first chence of the game, when a shot from Fredrik Strømstad (from about 25 yards) gets ounched over the bar by the Bosnian GK.

14 The first real Bosnian chance comers after a corner, when Misimovic heads the ball down below the Norwegian GK Opdal. Luckily for Norway the ball goes via the post and out for a goal kick.

29 - GOOAL FOR NORWAY! Finally Steffen Iversen gets his first goal of the campaign! Carew's long a shot touches a Bosnian player and lands at Iversen's feet. Iversen gets an easy tap-in and Norway have the lead!

39 A good chance for the Bosnians when Muslimovic fires off a shot from the edge of the penalty box. His shot goes via the crossbar and out.

HALF TIME: NORWAY - BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA 1-1.

58 The Bosnians get a penalty when Erik Hagen tackles a Bosnian player inside the penalty box. The Bosnian penalty is saved by the post, as Opdal goes the wrong way.

72 - GOOOAL FOR BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA! Edin Dzeko plays a through ball to Muslimovic. He dribbles away Opdal and scores in front of an open goal.

80 A good chance for Norway as Carew's free kick gets only inches away from the top left corner.

88 Martin Andresen's long shot from about 20 yards goes via the post and out for a goal kick.

FINAL SCORE: NORWAY - BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA 1-1.

[gelur1]

"Drillo": - We lost two important points

Egil "Drillo" Olsen was upset when he spoke to the press after tonight's 1-1 draw vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina.




- We had several golden oppurtunities with some long shots, but we weren't effective enough in our attack. Our players need to understand that instead of relying on long shots, they should try finding players who are better positioned, "Drillo" said.

- Our ineffecttiveness cost us two importantpoints and now we'll have to fight for the play-off spot if we don't get more effective in our attack.When we don't set our chances, there's a goodchance the opponents will, as the Bosnians showed today.

[gelur1]

UEFA Euro 2008 Qualifying Group C

September 2

Malta - Bosnia and Herzegovina 0-3
Hungary - Norway 2-3
Moldova - Greece 1-3

September 6

Norway - Moldova 3-1
Turkey - Malta 5-0
Bosnia and Herzegovina - Hungary 2-2

October 7

Moldova - Bosnia and Herzegovina 2-1
Hungary - Turkey 0-3
Greece - Norway 3-0

October 11

Malta - Hungary 0-1
Turkey - Moldova 3-0
Bosnia and Hercegovina - Greece 2-3

March 24

Moldova - Malta 2-0
Norway - Bosnia and Herzegovina 1-1
Greece - Turkey 1-2

Turkey.................................4...4...0.. .0...10 - 2...12
----------------------------------------------------------
Greece...............................4...3...0...1..10 - 5...9
----------------------------------------------------------
Norway..............................4...2...1...1. ..7 - 7...7
Moldova...........................5...2...0...3... 6 - 10...6
Bosnia and Herzegovina...5...1...2...2...8 - 8...5 Hungary............................4...0...2...2.. .5 - 8...2
Malta................................4...0...0...4 ...0 - 12...0

March 28

Hungary - Moldova
Malta - Greece
Turkey - Norway