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The former director of the national team was very pleased with Norway’s performance in Vienna, but was left with a slightly bitter feeling after the match.
The Norwegian team came close to a very small sensation on Wednesday night when they were 1-1 away against Austria in the Nations League. Ghaya’s Zahid put Norway ahead in the 61st minute, but the visitors drew with Adrian Grbic several minutes after extra time.
The Norwegian boys, who had previously been branded an “emergency national team”, were very surprising and created a number of good chances against the Austrians.
Jørgen Strand Larsen, Jørgen Skjelvik and Mats Møller Dæhli were among those who could have given Norway the lead earlier in the game.
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Despite the fact that Norway had won 1-0, which for a long time it seemed they would achieve, Austria had still won the Nations League group on goal difference. However, if it had been 2-0 for the Norwegian boys, they would have taken the group win.
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Drillo: – I didn’t think
Regardless of the result, former national team manager Egil Drillo Olsen was very impressed by the Norwegian players. They just took him to bed a bit.
– It’s bitter. In fact, we came very close to winning that group. I hadn’t thought we’d sit here with a high pulse with a few minutes left. He hadn’t dreamed of that, he said in an interview with journalist Marius Skjelbæk after the match.
The 78-year-old had to admit that he had not been so positive on behalf of the Norwegian team before the deal and had expected “honorable efforts”.
– We were very close 2-0. We didn’t have many more chances after 1-0, but we had several before. All in all, we should have won the match. A bit unreal. I was a bit defensive before this here and I calculated that here we lose 2-3-0 and we make an honorable effort, but that was not the case, says the former national coach.
Taken in bed of the details
Drillo also believes that Wednesday’s performance is very good for Norwegian football and that shows that Norway has quite a few good players in Europe.
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He believes that four or five of those in action played to the best of their ability and believes that they will likely be part of the discussion about a place on the national team in the future. He singles out Sondre Tronstad as the best, but also praises the defense and the goalkeeper.
One thing in particular about acting touched the heart of the 78-year-old a little more, and he admits that it was precisely that that surprised him a bit.
– The defensive organization was actually sitting almost the entire game. In fact, I don’t think so either. The recycling game was so good that we created several good scoring opportunities after a good recycling. No, there was a lot to enjoy here, Drillo tells TV 2.
– I had hardly dared to expect this here, myself, and then we are so far from being able to manage the last, very, says a former coach of the committed national team.
Smerud: – A little sad.
It was Leif Gunnar Smerud who had been tasked with leading this so-called national emergency team. I was proud, impressed and a little sad after the game.
– Players saw the opportunity and seized it. They showed that they are good footballers, and there are many here who are underrated. I am very, very impressed with the work they did. Despite an insane starting point, they met a strong Austrian team. I’m proud and hope the players are too, Smerud tells TV 2.
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– That there was no victory or group victory in the Nations League, we have to live with that. The players delivered above expectations. I told them at the party meeting that I am a little sorry that we are parting ways soon, because this is a fantastic group. I think it’s sad, he says.
– Until Lars considers
As mentioned, Austria would also be the group winner with 1-0 against Norway. So Norway went ahead in pursuit of one more goal, continues Smerud.
– We could have run 1-0, but the guys wanted to chase another goal, says the coach.
– We “prepared” the first 11 a little better than those that entered. There were not so many scenarios that we handled, so we did not get so much into the substitutes, says the substitute technician.
The 43-year-old, who usually leads the Norwegian U21 team, does not rule out that several of those who were in action on Wednesday may now knock on the door of Lars Lagerbäck’s squad.
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– It will be up to Lars to evaluate, but I think there were many who had a good performance and showed what they can do. And then we know that those who were originally eliminated are also a good group, says the coach of the national team.
Dæhli praises the plan
Mats Møller Dæhli was among those who impressed greatly in Wednesday’s game and the midfielder came close to scoring early in the second half.
The 25-year-old led the Norwegian team as captain for the first time.
– The support staff and the coach came up with an absolutely fantastic plan that we follow. We must be brave and push hard when we can and annoy them as much as possible. Then we also create chances with the good players we have. No, I don’t know what to say. She was special. I’m proud of the team, he tells TV 2 after the game.
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The Oslo boy has struggled with playing time on the Genk club squad lately and admits this was a rebound in what has been a heavy fall.
– It has been a hard autumn for me, also personally. I am quite touched and proud of the team. That he can be the captain of Norway in such a game and that he defends us like we do, is absolutely fantastic, says the captain of Norway.
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