CRISIS: Norway’s defense was put to the test when they lost 8-0 against England in the EC last year. Photo: Terje Pedersen / NTB
AUCKLAND (VG) One thing in particular, football expert Carl Erik Torp believes, is that Norway is being “completely” undressed. That problem must have been addressed, we are to believe Tuva Hansen.
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NRK’s football expert Carl Erik Torp is skeptical about Norway’s chances in the World Cup in New Zealand and Australia – despite the fact that a new coaching team headed by Hege Riise has taken over the baton after Norway’s failure in the football European Championship in England last year.
– I am not very optimistic. I feel that Norway may have the opportunity to surprise, but there is little indication that they will. Considering the team’s weaknesses, I have no reason to believe that they will go far, says Torp to VG.
Norway meets host nation New Zealand in the first match of the group stage in the World Cup. It is played at 09.00 on Thursday Norwegian time, and can be seen on NRK or Viaplay. CONCERNED: NRK’s football expert Carl Erik Torp will comment on the opening match between Norway and New Zealand. He believes that Norway must win to have a good chance of advancement. Photo: Terje Pedersen / NTB
Riise has changed the formation to 4–3–3, and addressed challenges relating to the collective game after Martin Sjögren was fired after the EC.
Nevertheless, the last period before the World Cup has given the expert extra headaches, and he uses the Spain match in Ibiza this spring as a good example of the challenges the team faces.
There, Norway lost 2–4 against the Spaniards.
– You become very defensive, often end up one on one and have to manage a lot on your own. It is quite obvious that you are not good enough there, and that is what disappoints me the most, he says.
He elaborates:
– You cannot keep good distances and act as a unit. You work one by one, suddenly there is one who bumps up, and one who falls off. You become more tired, weaker and not quick enough to react – and you become completely undressed, says Torp.
Now defender Tuva Hansen assures that exactly these points have been high on the priority list of national team manager Hege Riise recently.
– We have focused a lot on the defensive part and working for each other. It’s not just about the back four, or possibly the five, who have to defend themselves – it’s the whole team, says Hansen.
Now Hansen shares what will hopefully be the formula for success in the WC:
– What we think is that one plus one is three, that you should help each other and rather create two against one in the opposite direction, than that you should be alone one against two. We have focused a lot on that. So I hope that it is reflected in the matches, and that you see it, says Hansen.
NOT WORRIED: Tuva Hansen has got a good feeling after the pre-camp to Norway. – We have had a great time and the facilities are absolutely brilliant. We have nothing to complain about. There is nothing we can blame if things don’t go our way, she says. Photo: Bjørn S. Delebekk / VG
She herself believes that the team has taken bigger steps than she might have thought before entering the championship. The last dress rehearsal against Portugal produced good answers.
– It was very fun to watch. When you always train against the same opponents, it doesn’t always work out. Now we have played against opponents you are not used to, and see that it actually works. It gives a really good feeling, and I think it was good for the whole group that we got it and felt the team feeling, says Hansen.
– Have you felt the stress that that feeling wouldn’t come?
– No, but it’s been a year since we changed coaches, and time has been limited. Now we have met good nations, and got to practice what we have to do. It gives more security, says Hansen.
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Published: 20.07.23 at 04:20
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2023-07-20 02:20:26
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