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Norway had it very easy in the previous game against Northern Ireland. Now the teams meet again at the Ullevaal stadium on Wednesday night.
ULLEVAAL STADION (Nettavisen): There will be no repeat of the goal celebration in Belfast last month, we have to believe Northern Ireland national team player Conor McLaughlin.
Sunderland’s profile tells the BBC that the Norwegian team will face a completely different version of Northern Ireland this time.
– It’s a different situation now. The loss to Norway came at a time when the leagues hadn’t started again and everyone was working to get in shape. Now the players have had a lot of games and we hope we can keep up and deliver a good performance, says McLaughlin.
Lagerbäck: – I don’t know what happened
The defender is not the only one hoping for a better game from Northern Ireland.
At the press conference leading up to Wednesday’s international match at Ullevaal Stadium, the national team coach, Lars Lagerbäck, began by saying that he believes this will be a more demanding match for Norway.
– One should never expect easy matches at that level here. I don’t know what happened to Northern Ireland when we were there. Perhaps they were a little ill-prepared for our qualities, says Lagerbäck.
However, the Norway coach believes he has seen signs of improvement among the Northern Irishmen in his recent games.
This despite the fact that Northern Ireland lost the previous match against Austria 0-1.
– They give them a real match to the finish line and have a great chance towards the end. Now they were themselves again. They were hard-working and well organized. We can expect a tough match, says Lagerbäck.
He is supported by midfielder Kristoffer Ajer.
– I very much agree with what Lars says. I think you can expect a much more difficult match on Wednesday. They will be well organized. Now they know our strengths after playing against us a few weeks ago. Of course, they are also proud that it will not be the same match as last time. I expect a very tough fight, says Ajer.
GOAL FESTIVAL: Erling Braut Haaland actually delivered the goods the last time Norway played Northern Ireland.
Photo: Peter Morrison (AP)
Great respect for Haaland
Therefore, expectations for Wednesday’s sale appear to be quite similar.
But at the same time that Northern Ireland and McLaughlin are betting on a better match for the guests, the defender is aware that the team will face a tough rival in Erling Braut Haaland on top of Norway.
McLaughlin sat on the bench in the previous game against Norway, but was later able to watch the Dortmund striker wreak havoc with his teammates.
Haaland scored two of the goals in Norway’s 5-1 win.
Nordiren believes Haaland is already one of the best forwards in the world and compares him to Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski.
– It’s up there. He’s probably one of the fastest players I’ve seen, says McLaughlin according to PA.
The Sunderland player also highlights the Norwegian’s final qualities.
– When I returned to my own club after the previous meeting with Norway, I told some of my teammates that Haaland and Lewandowski are the two best forwards I have seen, says McLaughlin.
Will not return exhausted players
Whether the Sunderland defender will face Haaland this time is currently uncertain. McLaughlin played the previous match against Austria for Northern Ireland, but national team manager Ian Baraclough has already made it clear that team changes will be made for the match against Norway.
Because, like Norway, Wednesday’s international game will be Northern Ireland’s third in no time.
Baraclough tells the Belfast Telegraph that he must be selfish first and foremost and think about the Northern Ireland national team, but at the same time he says he does not want to send players to clubs completely exhausted.
The tight match schedule is also something for Lagerbäck to think about.
DEMANDING: The director of the national team, Lars Lagerbäck, recognizes that the tight match program is a physical challenge for the players.
Photo: Håkon Mosvold Larsen (NTB)
The Swede tells Nettavisen that he has not received any guidance from any of the clubs for Norwegian players, but does not rule out changes to the team.
Because the Swede also little hides the fact that the match program is extremely difficult.
– Playing three games with two days between each game is physiologically wrong. The risk of injury increases. I understand the clubs and I even understand the manager of the Northern Ireland national team if you’ve thought about it, Lagerbäck tells Nettavisen.
The director of the Norwegian national team is clear that he believes that the tough program is not good, but says that they must make the most of the situation. At the same time, it is clear that they will not take risks with the players.
– We try to include it in the evaluation if someone is not ready to play the 90 minutes, says Lagerbäck.
Norway’s international match against Northern Ireland starts on Wednesday at 8:45 pm.
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