Looking ahead to Norway

[Nero]

Another tough game for different reasons.

The obvious is Haaland, but the Norwegians have some seriously good players. England need to win the midfield otherwise Odegaard will control the match. They have 4 very good wingers too.

It’s sounds strange but the game is almost a derby for Norway. They know English football so well. The players, fans and media will be loving this game. England needs to recognise that and stand up to the physical battle (which we will).

I can’t see England stopping them scoring so we’re going to need goals again.

 

[RobboTheRed]

A think it will be a classic game

 

[KDG]

Another tough game for different reasons.

The obvious is Haaland, but the Norwegians have some seriously good players. England need to win the midfield otherwise Odegaard will control the match. They have 4 very good wingers too.

It’s sounds strange but the game is almost a derby for Norway. They know English football so well. The players, fans and media will be loving this game. England needs to recognise that and stand up to the physical battle (which we will).

I can’t see England stopping them scoring so we’re going to need goals again.

During the Brazil game you could see the three biggest threats from Norway
1. Haaland
2. Odegaard
3. The left side

Haaland is the obvious one, he only needs one attempt to score.

Odegaard was allowed far too much time on the ball. The amount of space he had was unbelievable, i'm not sure if that was him raising his game or was another example of providing how bad Brazil where in midfield - which had been highlighted in all of their games except Haiti. They played Martinelli in midfield for this one so it was left to Bruno and Casemiro and both have been poor. I don't believe we will allow Odegaard as much time and i hope we see more of how he was last season which was cautious, happy to be on the ball but often going backwards.

In the second half they had a lot of joy on the left, often cutting inside and then playing a little ball to the overlapping player, it caused Brazil all sorts of problems and that will be going against our right back which as we know is an area of concern.

We will concede chances which is worry when they have the most lethal finishes in the game but i do believe we possess more quality. It will have a Premier League feel to it and im hoping its just one game too far for them. I think it will be tight as our games against the likes of Norway, Denmark and Sweden prove to be.

 

[B_G]

I think Norway will stay compact and let us have the ball to an extent.
When they win it they'll get it into Haaland as quick as possible and let him have a battle with our CBs. We need to limit that service and try and keep those battles on the halfway line rather than around the box.
We all know how good Haaland is and he's flying at the WC.
Like any game of football, the first goal will be huge.

 

[TeaCider]

Good news is that the 33°C heat is going to impact both teams equally, I doubt Norway will be any better adapted to it than England will be.

 

[SydneyRed]

Is going to be like a top end EPL game.

 

[KDG]

I think Norway will stay compact and let us have the ball to an extent.
When they win it they'll get it into Haaland as quick as possible and let him have a battle with our CBs. We need to limit that service and try and keep those battles on the halfway line rather than around the box.
We all know how good Haaland is and he's flying at the WC.
Like any game of football, the first goal will be huge.

IT has to be a proper job on him for the full 90 minutes plus injury time. We have seen his stats before with no more than 20 touches all game and still gets two goals.

I am feeling confident, i'm hoping its not a hint of arrogance on my part but i do feel we will have more joy in this game than previous games.

 

[SydneyRed]

My prediction...

Norway 3 - 2 England...AET

I think we fall on the wrong side of a close open game this time.

 

[Nero]

I think it will be tight as our games against the likes of Norway, Denmark and Sweden prove to be.

Very good points and this one in particular is my thinking as well. It’s going to be tight like all the games against Scandinavian teams.

 

[Nero]

My prefiction...

Norway 3 - 2 England...AET

I think we fall on the wrong side of a close open game this time.

I think Norway 2 - 3 England!

 

[Nano]

We should have enough to beat them. It's a really good draw for us. They do not have the quality throughout the team that we do but they do have some huge quality in players like Haaland and Odegaard. They beat Italy twice in qualification so they are no mugs but they also finished below Scotland in qualification for the last Euros so they aren't world beaters either.

It's potentially a banana skin but I think we're good enough to do well.

 

[festa5]

They have some dangerous players obviously and are quite capable of winning.

But how many of their players would get in the England side?

England "should" win, but obviously football doesn't work like that. Agree it'll be close.

 

[Laughing]

I think Norway will stay compact and let us have the ball to an extent.
When they win it they'll get it into Haaland as quick as possible and let him have a battle with our CBs. We need to limit that service and try and keep those battles on the halfway line rather than around the box.
We all know how good Haaland is and he's flying at the WC.
Like any game of football, the first goal will be huge.

Exactly this I think bg. Norway haven't conceded many goals, similar to England. You have to ignore the france game Norway rested so many players.

In a game with, probably, few goals keeping halland quiet well be absolutely key. I don't fancy our defence v halland.

 

[Nero]

But how many of their players would get in the England side?

Irrelevant. They’ll be well up for it. Haaland and Odegaard to answer the question though.

How long did it take England to beat Sweden in tournaments? I think we went a long time before finally beating them in Euro 2012.

 

[NorthStand95]

Norway keeper is brilliant but I think our forward line will be too much for the Norway defence. As said above it is crucial that our midfield turn up. I think Rice is carrying a big knock than being suggested so a bit worried about him. I personally would have Stone and Guehi in. They know Haaland well but wouldn’t be shocked if he picked Burn.

 

[festa5]

Irrelevant. They’ll be well up for it. Haaland and Odegaard to answer the question though.

How long did it take England to beat Sweden in tournaments? I think we went a long time before finally beating them in Euro 2012.

Its not irrelevant is it? How is it irrelevant? England have the better players. The team with better will on balance win a match more often than not. Might as well not worry about Boro's recruitment this summer then. Having better payers is irrelevant.

And you seem to have completely ignored the rest of my post where I state pretty clearly that it'll be close and Norway are quite capable of winning the match. Because obviously having better players is only part of the equation. Its not an irrelevant part of it though is it?

 

[morrissey]

Headland is elite and a massive threat, but Norway need to worry about what we've got and I reckon we'll have too much for them - the key for me is that we score first and draw them out, they go ahead and we've seen that playing against a massed defence is not our strong suit.
I genuinely think we're in for a cracker of a game.
Come On England!!

 

[Nero]

And you seem to have completely ignored the rest of my post where I state pretty clearly that it'll be close and Norway are quite capable of winning the match.

Fair enough.

Irrelevant was a poor choice of word.

 

[allied_assault]

Our quality will see us through

 

[Norton_Nomad]

I think he’ll switch things up at the back to counter Haaland and bring in Burn. Part of me thinks it’s the main reason he brought him into the squad, with the view that we’d face Haaland at some point.