Norway loses the European Championship after a dream goal from Serbia

Of: Michael Wagner

Published: October 08, 2020 at 11:13 pm
Updated: October 08, 2020 at 11:40 p.m.

Photo: VEGARD WIVESTAD GRØTT / BILDBYRÅN

Haaland is depressing.

Lasse Lagerbäck’s Norway will not participate in the European Championships next summer.

A dream goal from Lazio star Sergej Milinkovic-Savic took Serbia further into qualifying.

– Serbia deservedly wins, Lagerbäck tells Norwegian TV2.

The decision would have taken place in March, but the match only ended now due to the corona pandemic. On Thursday night, Lars Lagerbäck’s Norway met Serbia in the semi-final tiebreaker to advance through the playoffs for a place at next summer’s European Championship.

Norway had the two superstars Martin Ödegaard, Real Madrid, and Erling Braut Haaland, Borussia Dortmund, in the starting eleven at home in a very rainy Ullevål.

Poor norway

But Norway was pale and the Serbian guests created the most occasions.

In the 82nd minute, Serbia surprised the home team as the playoff semi-final looked to be heading into extra time.

With a free kick from Dusan Tadic, Nikola Milenkovic stepped forward and directed the ball into the center. There was substitute Sergej Milinkovic-Savic and scored the 1-0 for Serbia from close range.

The European Championship seemed lost for Norway.

But the local team turned the night’s drama into a thriller in front of 200 spectators in Ullevål.

With just two minutes to go wet, substitute Mathias Normann made it 1-1 with a well-placed forehand near the far post.

The only match lasted 1-1 and went into extra time.

Darko Lazovic hit the ball hard on the post from about ten minutes into extra time.

Incredible goal

But in the end, Norway couldn’t hold out any longer. After a parade, Milinkovic-Savic answered for a world-class finish when the Lazio star hit the ball from a narrow angle from the left.

– It’s the best I’ve seen in a long, long time, says CM expert Anders Andersson.

In the playoff final for a place in the European Championship, Serbia will face Scotland, who went ahead after defeating Israel on penalties.

Serbia will play that match on November 12 at home.

– We know a better team. Overall they deservedly win, nothing more can be said, says Norway captain Lasse Lagerbäck.

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Published: October 08, 2020 at 11:13 pm

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