Sunday’s defeat at the Ullevaal stadium means that Norway no longer has the opportunity to be among the top two in the qualifying group, regardless of how it goes in the last match against Scotland. There is now only a razor-thin theory via an alternative route that could get Norway to the European Championship play-offs last summer: VAR cancellation Already after 20 minutes, the unthinkable happened at Ullevaal. After a misunderstanding between Stefan Strandberg and goalkeeper Ørjan Håskjold Nyland, the ball ended up with Álvaro Morata. The Atlético Madrid striker had no problem putting the ball into the empty goal. However, after the VAR referees had looked at the situation, referee Tobias Stieler had to go to the touchline to watch the goal in a replay. He chose to cancel – even though Morata actually got the ball from Strandberg. – You need more refereeing courses than I do to understand that rule. It is difficult. It is a very delicate situation, where fortunately for Norway we have it covered, stated news’s expert commentator Kristoffer Løkberg. His expert colleague Carl Erik Torp points out that the ball would have gone into the goal even if Morata had not touched it. – We are lucky that his striker genes hit there and that he didn’t just let it roll in. That he showed some sympathy for Strandberg, who didn’t get that own goal. If he hadn’t done that, I’m pretty sure that goal would have stood, says Torp. VAR approval Otherwise, Spain created little in the first half, but so did Norway. – We have actually played more and more into the game. I think the Norwegian boys go into the dressing room now with a relatively good feeling and with a belief that this can be successful in the second half, said Løkberg. Things did not go as well for Norway the next time the ball ended up in the net behind Nyland. Admittedly, the VAR check took a long time after Gavi put the ball in the goal. But in the end, referee Stieler pointed to the center circle. After just under an hour of play, Ståle Solbakken replaced Oscar Bobb and Patrick Berg with Alexander Sørloth and Antony Nousa. Soon after, Sørloth set up Martin Ødegaard for a good shooting opportunity, but the captain couldn’t get the ball on target. NOT HEARD: While Spain cheers for the goal, Fredrik Aursnes tries to convince the referees that it was offside. It wasn’t. Photo: Fredrik Varfjell / AFP – Fiasco With a quarter of an hour left to play, TV2’s football expert Jesper Mathisen stated that Erling Braut Haaland, Ødegaard and the rest of the team had not managed to create a single big scoring chance. – It must be said to be a gigantic disappointment on an evening like this, said Mathisen. After 83 minutes, Haaland got his first half-chance, after a cross from Sørloth. But the outside flick was a cheap supper for Spain goalkeeper Unai Simón. Even eight extra minutes were not enough: Norway never had any chances to score and therefore no scores either. – This is a failure, stated Jesper Mathisen. Who was Norway’s best against Spain? Ørjan Nyland Julian Ryerson Leo Østigård Stefan Strandberg Birger Meling Patrick Berg Sander Berge Martin Ødegaard Fredrik Aursnes Oscar Bobb Erling Braut Haaland One of the substitutes Show result
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Chanceless Norwegian stars – now the EC dream depends on thin theory – news Sport – Sports news, results and broadcasting schedule
