– He barked a little, says Martin Ødegaard and smiles. The 23-year-old delivered another good match when Sweden was beaten 3-2 at Ullevaal. Norway has got a real wind in its sails and can smell the group victory in the National League. On the deck, the national team captain rules. Ødegaard has become known for his warm leadership style, and he is not the one who yells and slams in the locker room or on the pitch. VICTORY CLAMP: Martin Ødegaard and Ståle Solbakken after the Sweden match. Photo: VEGARD GRØTT / BILDBYRÅN That role is taken by others. Stefan Strandberg, who has long made great demands, apparently puts little in between when he is dissatisfied. Several rinsing buckets Against Sweden, he chopped and intruded or reprimanded teammates. Whether it was Fredrik Bjørkan after a failed duel against Dejan Kulusevski, or Martin Ødegaard who gave away a counterattack just before the break. Strandberg was often visibly cursed, and gave Norway teammates some real rinsing buckets on several occasions. When asked if it was the return race Strandberg was dissatisfied with when he gave Ødegaard a scolding sermon, Ødegaard answers: – No, it was that I played away the ball first there. The return race was fast, you see. So it was mostly that I played it off first. That’s how it is, the Norway captain answers. Here you can see the situation: Praises the Chief of Defense Even though it is sometimes a bit hot, Ødegaard emphasizes that the feedback and advice from Strandberg is exclusively positive. – He is extremely important to us – also to me. He has helped me a lot with the role of captain. He is an important conversation partner and one I discuss a lot with. I can not praise him enough, says Ødegaard to news. Strandberg made his Norway debut already in 2013 and is one of today’s national team players with the longest sailing time in red. – A type of leader you look up to? – Yes, of course. He always leads by example, and he is a wise man. He has a lot to offer and has been involved in a lot. When he speaks, I think most people prick up their ears, says Ødegaard. – Extreme respect Strandberg has taken a natural leadership role in Solbakken’s squad. Although the 31-year-old has barely played club football in the last six months, the national team manager described him as self-described. The midfielder has thanked for the trust with new, solid matches for Norway. The Chief of Defense greatly appreciates the words of praise from Ødegaard. – I have extreme respect for him as a player, captain and friend. It may be up to others to say something about my role, but I appreciate the praise, says Strandberg to news. Strandberg and Ødegaard will again be key players when the National League ends in September. Then away game against Slovenia and home game against group rival Serbia awaits. The situation for Solbakken’s team is so favorable that Norway even with a loss in Slovenia – and at the same time a Serbian victory over Sweden – will be a group winner with a draw against Serbia at Ullevaal on 27 September. Then the teams end up with the same score, and Norway takes the lead in mutual settlement thanks to the away win in Belgrade.
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