World Soccer - UK (2020-04)

NORWAY

Three Reasons to be Cheerful

1

Up to now, marksman Erling Haaland

has featured little for the national

team. But with the teenager in such a

rich vein of form, how can coach Lars

Lagerback ignore him?

2

As he proved at the helm of Sweden

and Iceland, Lagerback excels in

defensive organisation and has managed

to make the Norwegians a very tough nut

to crack. Their high-pressing game is very

effective and they do not easily lose their

shape. Just the one defeat in qualification

speaks for itself.

3

Rampaging right-back Omar

Elabdellaoui is their ace in the hole,

forever looking to push forward and often

found higher up the pitch than right-

sided midfielder Stefan Johansen.

Three Fear Factors

1

The repeated hamstring problems

of striker Joshua King. It’s been an

affliction for the 28-year-old throughout

his career, with three flare-ups this term.

2

While their approach play has been

fluid enough under Lagerback, many

of their attacks seem to lose momentum

in and around the penalty area. At times

they can be a little primitive going

forward, repeatedly launching long balls

and looking to win the second phase.

3

Norway’s number one keeper Rune

Jarstein has had a season to forget

at Hertha Berlin in the Bundesliga and is

now on the bench. A demotion at just the

wrong time.

SERBIA

Three Reasons to be Cheerful

1

Their creative midfield ranks – not

least Dusan Tadic, Sergej Milinkovic-

Savic, Filip Kostic and Mijat Gacinovic.

2

Every team needs a goalscorer and

Serbia certainly have one in the

shape of Aleksandar Mitrovic, who has

scored in his last seven internationals.

3

The return to form of defensive

midfielder Nemanja Matic, who

once again is a fixture in the Manchester

United line-up. So much for those who

claimed he was over the hill at 31.

Three Fear Factors

1

For reasons best known to themselves

the Serbia side have not enjoyed a

consistent rearguard line-up for many

years. This worrying lack of common

purpose and understanding was apparent

in the qualifiers, notably the 5-0

thumping in Ukraine and 4-2 home

loss to Portugal.

2

Luka Jovic, who in just a few months,

has gone from Frankfurt goal

machine to Real Madrid flop. Nor is he

on the best of terms with Serbia coach

Ljubisa Tumbakovic after walking out on

the national squad last autumn with a

supposed ankle injury.

3

Did Tumbakovic set up a hostage to

fortune by describing Norway as the

opponents “we wanted the least in the

play-offs”? Why plant seeds of negativity?

Norway v Serbia

EURO 2020 PLAY-OFFS PREVIEW | PATH C

Prolific...Aleksandar Mitrovic

Solid...Norway

defender Kristoffer

Ajer (in white)