(Croatia U21 – Norway U21 3-2) Norway fought heroically and fought back against Croatia twice. The U21 boys’ terrible opening and failing markings on defensive set pieces in the end were decisive.
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Norway was taken to bed from the start and ended up under already after one minute and 15 seconds against Croatia. A real nightmare start for Leif Gunnar Smerud’s men in the European Championship qualifier.
After a quarter of an hour, the home team doubled the lead, both goals after a set piece. Roko Simic and Luka Sucic scored Croatia’s two opening goals.
– It should not really be allowed to concede two goals on a set piece at this level. It is lead heavy, said HamKam coach Kjetil Rekdal in VG + Sports studio.
– It is provocative and frustrating to watch, says Joacim Jonsson.
Smerud used the success formula that lowered Austria again away from home against the group favorites from Croatia. «300 kilos of muscle» at the top in the form of Jørgen Strand Larsen, Erik Botheim and Noah Holm were to create trouble in Croatia’s defense, but before the break the top trio had very little to work with.
– Croatia has of course studied Norway, and takes away the tips. Smerud is tactically undressed by Bišćan, Jonsson thought.
Croatia is led by former Liverpool player Igor Bišćan.
Norway created little before the break, but should have had a penalty kick, according to experts:
VG’s experts called for Emil Konradsen Ceide during the break, and Smerud obviously thought along the same lines. The national team manager took action and sent in the RBK wing and Tobias Christensen when switching sides.
Shortly into the inning, the settlement took complete fire with three goals in four minutes.
54 minutes: It started with a low-flying rocket from Viking defender Sebastian Sebulonsen, who whizzed into the far corner.
57 minutes: Norway’s hopes were barely lit, before Croatia extinguished the flame. Norway slept in their own defense on a corner, and on the first post Mario Vuskovic steered in the Croatians’ third on set pieces for the evening.
58 minutes: But in the ensuing attack, Norway was only one goal behind. Substitute Konradsen Ceide pulled in for the edge and screwed the ball elegantly into the far corner.
– Konradsen Ceide created an imbalance time and time again. He has most of what a winger at an international level needs, Jonsson assesses.
The Norwegian boys fought for an equalizer in the last half hour, and were dangerous in front of both Jørgen Strand Larsen and Tobias Christensen. But Croatia defended well, and the biggest chances were missed.
Norway is in 3rd place in the European Championship qualifying group. After tonight’s match, they are up six points. Croatia has three straight victories and nine points. Austria, who lost to Norway, is currently leading against Estonia and brings it up to nine points with one game more played than Norway.
The group winner goes directly to the EC 2023 in Romania. The group runner-up must reach the playoffs.
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