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IT WAS ADDRESSED: Sander Berge screamed in pain during the match against Austria at Ullevaal Stadium on Friday night. Photo: Bjørn Steinar Delebekk, VG
Sander Berge (22) had to interrupt national team training in Belfast on Sunday afternoon and will probably not be able to play Northern Ireland.
– You were supposed to take the test today, but you didn’t complete 100 percent. I can listen with the medical device. It is a big question for tomorrow. There is less than a 50 percent chance that he will play, if I have to judge, Lagerbäck says at a news conference Sunday night.
Berge received a severe blow to the knee during a 1-2 loss to Austria on Friday. The Sheffield United pro completed the match, but now it’s clear he’s in trouble. Lagerbäck was generally disappointed with the team’s performance at the Nations League premiere, and now announces changes.
– Now that Sander is a big question mark, I don’t think it will be the same team. It’s also relevant to make other changes, says Lagerbäck.
MEET THE PRESS: Lars Lagerbäck posed for a press conference in Belfast on Sunday. Photography: Stian Lysberg Solum, Scanpix
Even match
Against Austria, Erling Braut Haaland (20) scored the first A goal of his career for a national team. It happened with a pass from Alexander Sørloth (24) who made a good tackle.
At the same time, Joshua King (28) is Norway’s top scorer with Lagerbäck with 10 online acquaintances in 30 matches. The Bournemouth forward also has the second-best average on the VG stock market during the period.
When asked by VG, who was passed away by press manager Svein Graff, the Swede says he has not made a decision on how he will compose the team Monday night. Nor will it say if it has decided on the first places.
– I do not want to comment on that, although I knew it, says Lagerbäck.
However, he does not rule out that all three can start.
– It is much better to have Joshua’s qualities centrally, but it’s all about available qualities. We need a unit that works offensively and defensively, but it is entirely possible to use all three.
NEWS FROM THE START: Alexander Sørloth may be in the eleven against Northern Ireland on Monday. Photography: Håkon Mosvold Larsen, VG
Northerners at odds
Opposing Northern Ireland will not be an easy task. Like Norway, the team is qualified for a decisive European Championship playoff next month. While Lagerbäck’s men take on Serbia in Ullevaal, the Northern Irish will play the semi-final away against Bosnia.
Northern Ireland (36) also ranks higher in the world rankings than Norway (44).
– What we have seen in the videos, they are very energetic. We know a little about them before. We met them three years ago. We expect a difficult match. They are quite strong in dueling. We must take the war first, says Mohamed Elyounoussi (26) at Sunday’s press conference in Belfast.
On Friday, the Nations League opened the greens and whites with a strong away point against Romania, at the same time that Norway lost to Austria. It was the first game for newcomer Ian Baracloughs (49) in charge of players like Craig Cathcart (Watford), Steven Davies (Rangers) and the coveted Jamal Lewis (Norwich).
SATISFIED: Ian Baraclough liked what he saw from his players in Romania on Friday. Photo: AP
Northern Ireland-ros
In the match in Bucharest, Northern Ireland finished in a 3-4-3 formation under 1-0 after 25 minutes, before it was reduced to 10 men when Josh Magennis (Hull) got his second yellow card after only 39 minutes. Still, substitute Gavin Whyte (Cardiff) managed to save 1-1 shortly before the end, after what was described as a “world-class” performance by goalkeeper Bailey Peacock-Farrell (Burnley).
This led the BBC to describe the team’s first game under Baraclough as follows:
“The work ethic is upheld and it looks like the players are willing to walk through a wall for Baraclough. It is extremely promising and hopefully the rust will be gone by the Bosnian playoffs.”
Against Romania, Jonny Evans (32) was not included for personal reasons, but Leicester’s plug is probably ready again against Norway. Kick-off at Windsor Park is Monday night at 8:45 p.m. The settlement is shown on TV 2.
