Norway’s star striker Erling Braut Haaland (21) is struggling with injury and will not play the important matches against Turkey and Montenegro.
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– Big clubs will never send injured players to national team matches. But here there is no doubt. Erling is not in shape to play, unfortunately, says Bernt Hulsker, former Molde striker and VGTV profile.
Norway has major injury problems before the fateful matches in the World Cup qualifier against Turkey (next Friday) and Montenegro (next Monday). There are challenges, especially in the goalkeeper and forward positions.
Haaland suffered a stroke a week and a half ago, and has not been recovered since. He has lost the last Dortmund matches.
– Erling tried it, he will always play. But it did not work, said Dortmund coach Marco Rose tip injury this weekend.
In recent days, the medical teams of Norway and Dortmund have been in dialogue.
– It does not look good for Norway either. And it would be good if we just take the pressure off now. Erling is a human, not a machine. And it’s important that we get the boy in shape now. For BVB and for Norway, Rose said.
These players are missing for Norway: Erling Braut Haaland, Rune Jarstein, André Hansen, Joshua King, Omar Elabdellaoui, Kristoffer Ajer, Jonas Svensson, Sander Berge, Mathias Normann, Fredrik Midtsjø and Alexander Sørloth. Goalkeeper Per Kristian Bråtveit is uncertain.
– We have to put the puzzle together all over again. It will be a different team with different players, and plan A and plan B have been shelved. We have to get on the drawing board again, said the national team manager Ståle Solbakken to VG on Sunday.
At 15.40 on Monday, there is a press conference with Solbakken. National team doctor Ola Sand has so far not responded to VG’s inquiries on Monday.
The Netherlands and Norway are at the top of the group with 13 points after six of ten games. Turkey is in third place with eleven.
