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MÁLAGA (VG) (Norway 0-3 Turkey) Nightmare start, marking error, dream goal and sending off when Ståle Solbakken (53) failed in his first real test as Norway coach.
– There are boys against men, is the verdict of the former captain of the national team Kjetil Rekdal in the VGTV studio.
– It couldn’t have gotten darker, says John Arne Riise.
He made a freshly composed defensive four, three back row changes since the 3-0 win over Gibraltar, and already after four minutes they were spread out for all to see.
– You do not win football matches at an international level defending the goal in this way. He’s too thin, Ståle Solbakken tells VG.
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An initially established Norwegian defense disintegrated: Stian Gregersen found a spike in his back; both Julian Ryerson and Kristoffer Ajer chased Yusuf Yazici down the left wing; his message simply hit Ajer’s hair and he changed direction; and Ozan Tufan scored the opening goal.
Both Alexander Sørloth, with a very hard post, and Mohamed Elyyounoussi, with a shot just outside, had great opportunities for Norway.
But the Turks demonstrated the efficiency that is required at the highest level.
Just before half an hour had elapsed, they once again took advantage of the weak Norwegian defense: Leicester star Çağlar Söyüncü escaped from Ryerson and Ajer’s mark and stabbed it 2-0.
– The corner is a mess. We have trained a lot in that. All the corners came on the back post. We put our most important people there. A real lesson, Solbakken tells TV 2.
– We had trained them to hit all their corners on the back post and then score. They were dangerous against Holland there. We stack the biggest ones there and then it must be impossible, Solbakken tells VG.
If the first and second setbacks could have been avoided, there was little to say about the third: Tufan beautifully placed his second for the night with a pearl finish from 20 meters.
Sørloth and Erling Braut Haaland had their goal disallowed for offside. Trønderen also had a dangerous header late in the second half, but the Dortmund star did not have a single scoring opportunity.
A dark Norwegian night hit rock bottom when substitute Kristian Thorstvedt, whom VG named the best on the pitch against Gibraltar, received a direct red card for putting Caner Erkin’s ankle knots.
– Much of what we do offensively is good and what we do with the ball is absolutely approved. We are a bit unlucky not to score. There are a lot of good things there, but it’s always uphill when you let in such goals, says Solbakken.
