Slovenia – Norway 2-1 (0-0)

LJUBLJANA (Dagbladet): With his 21st goal for the national team in 22 games, Erling Braut Haaland sent Norway ahead away to Slovenia – and at the same time consolidated his position as top scorer in the Nations League, with six goals in five games in the current tournament.

But what could have been a bright story turned into a dark night of Norwegian football. Because even though Norway had excelled at the start of the second half, Slovenia responded and changed 0-1 to 2-1.

– It was a rather messy match, I think. We started sloppy, but picked ourselves up in the first half. It’s a bit messy and chaotic throughout. The pitch is a bit difficult to play on, but we will manage to do better. It’s disappointing, national team captain Martin degaard told TV 2.

– Even if it stings now, we just need to reset and make sure we receive it on Tuesday, said the Arsenal star.

Drillo predicts damage: – Goalkeeper error

Slovenia’s final score was signed by the 195-centimeter and 19-year-old prodigy Benjamin Sesko, whose 25-metre shot slipped behind rjan Håskjold Nyland.

The scoreline is sure to spark discussion about whether it would be right to start with a goalkeeper with no club – no last game practice – in goal in this fixture.

– This is not a dream that Sesko hit. This is a terrible goalkeeper. rjan Nyland should really take it, exclaimed TV 2 football expert Jesper Mathisen.

– This is a goalkeeper error, plain and simple. “I think we’ll get another goalkeeper against Serbia,” former national team coach Egil “Drillo” Olsen said in studio TV 2 broadcast.

He believes Rosenborg goalkeeper André Hansen will get his chance against Serbia on Tuesday. AaFK goalkeeper Sten Grytebust is also an alternative.

National team manager Ståle Solbakken thinks the question of whether it is right to start with Nyland in goal is fully justified.

– We have asked ourselves the same question and ended up with rjan standing. He’s also never had match training before in his career, and has always performed and been very solid during my time as coach of the national team. rjan benefits from the doubt, Solbakken told TV 2.

Tonight’s loss against Slovenia means that Norway abused the opportunity to earn an important group win in tonight’s Nations League group, where three factors in particular were at stake:

By winning the group, Norway can cash in 1) promotion to level A in the Nations League, meaning exciting matches against Europe’s best nations in the next edition, 2) better seeding for the fall draw for regular European Championship qualifiers and thus a way which is considered easier to go to EC in Germany 2024, and 3) additional chance to qualify for EC 2024 via playoffs, if not successful in regular EC qualifiers.

However, Norway can still secure a group win if the task is done against Serbia at Ullevaal on Tuesday night. Serbia also meet Sweden later tonight.

– We need to have a point against Serbia in Ullevaal. If we take a point or three against Serbia, we will win the group. If not, Serbia will win the group, concluded Drillo.

firmly in focus

In a first half that had relatively little content and chances, it was centre-back Leo Skiri Stigård who was responsible for the most and greatest scoring chances, particularly the three points, where a pass from degaard to stigrd, followed by a brilliant goalkeeper. played by Atletico Madrid champions Jan Oblak, is a review song.

First, the Napoli keeper headed the ball straight into the net after Martin degaard’s corner, but the goal was canceled out due to a push from behind. Next, Kristian Thorstvedt effectively pushed the ball into the stigård in his dream position, but star goalkeeper Jan Oblak made a superb reaction save on the line.

Nearing half-time, the 22-year-old from ndalsnes came back close after another fine set-piece from degaard to stigård, but once again Oblak stopped the Norwegian centre-back. Moreover, Braut Haaland was dangerous after 36 minutes, but his finish went into the wall, and Slovenia were held 0-0 at half-time.

Haaland’s goal and Slovenia’s equaliser

Shortly after halftime, the score came, more precisely after 47 minutes. Not surprisingly, it was Erling Braut Haaland who once again made his name on the scoresheet.

The second half barely lasted as Norway’s high pressure paid off. Zan Karnicnik’s attempt to play was blocked by Mohamed Elyounoussi, before the ball ended with Haaland, who slotted the ball into the net.

However, midway through the 2nd half, Slovenia replied:

Benjamin Sesko played freely in the back room with an accurate long pass. Sesko did everything he could to hit hard in front of goal, with Andraz Sporar dueling Birger Meling to slip the ball into the net and make it 1-1.

Minutes later, substitute Mats Møller Dæhli had a good chance to put Norway in front but his shot missed from a very good position.

New cold shower: – Terrible

But on the contrary:

Benyamin Sesko is 195 centimeters tall and 19-year-old great talent loading a canoe and firing a half-volley from 25 meters. His shot wasn’t clean, but still slid all the way into the left corner.

So 2-1 for Slovenia. The battle turned around.

– It’s a terrible goalkeeping game. rjan Nyland should really take it, exclaimed TV 2 football expert Jesper Mathisen.

Norway was unable to respond to the accusations and lost 1-2 in Slovenia.

– Performance is underwhelming, explained former national team coach Egil “Drillo” Olsen on studio TV 2 broadcast about Norway’s performance tonight.