The answer may be flashing in front of us after a convincing victory against Austria on Friday night, but there is little to suggest it. The good results under Sjögren have been saved by individual players. The good team performance should not be far away with these individual players. But I have not seen them. Far from the accidental 8-0 loss to England was in many ways a foretold belly splash. Not that it should be so ugly, of course, but that Norway as a team should not stick together. The national team manager hurt worse when he stood and watched without adjusting. The splash became even bigger. HEAVY EVENING: Martin Sjögren gave Ada Hegerberg some messages after the big loss. Photo: Terje Pedersen / NTB Time and time again, England rolled through a team that positioned itself incorrectly, dropped zone defense and invited the ball carrier to do as she pleased. Individual players were isolated against several Englishmen. Norway defended itself one by one. Yes, there were also personal mistakes, and the players have to take their share of the responsibility. But the personal mistakes usually come when the structure is not in place. It is the responsibility of the national team manager. We must not forget that Norway’s second worst loss in history came just one year ago against the Netherlands (7-0). Hurt for Sjögren, but far from accidental. What is the plan? Between 7-0 and 8-0, there was nothing to indicate that Norway had improved as a team. The qualifying matches were too easy. The Algarve Cup ended in losses for both Portugal and Italy. The national team management also did not use the private international matches to test themselves against the best nations. The absurdity of the 7-0 loss to the Netherlands, the 3-1 loss to Germany and the 1-0 loss to Sweden last year, is that Sjögren tried to change to a five-back line from the next match against Armenia – and in the seven consecutive matches. Maybe it would make Norway stronger against better nations? The answer was the opposite. The five-back line was thrown overboard. Nevertheless, he changed to just this when action was finally taken against England. BACK? Frida Maanum started against Northern Ireland and was wrecked against England. Now the last group game match awaits. Photo: Terje Pedersen / NTB It seems so little definite, so random. If it’s a plan, it’s invisible. When Sjögren explained why Frida Maanum had been expelled from the team, he pointed out how good she had been in the previous match. A weekend fence, again. I miss that the national team management makes choices and stands for them. Behind the results Several players have demonstrably taken big steps in the club’s everyday life. We have many who perform at a high, high level internationally. Nevertheless, Sjögren continues to use several of these players out of their usual positions. If you let all 11 have the prerequisites to show off their best side, the team will obviously be better. So how far has Sjögren’s team really come? The 4-0 victory at home against Belgium last year was a good result against an opponent in progress, but even there Norway was not as impressive as the result suggests. Belgium surprisingly had the most ball possession, and Norway had 1.86 in expected goals against Belgium’s 1.31. OUT OF POSITION: Julie Blakstad plays left-back for Norway, but says herself that she thrives best in a more offensive role. Photo: DAMIEN MEYER / AFP The 2-1 victory at home against the Netherlands is without a doubt the strongest result. The pressure was great. The victory secured World Cup games. But it was still a match Norway was all in all lucky with. After two quick goals, a corner and a solo performance from Isabell Herlovsen, it was all about the Netherlands. Norway were inferior, and if the match was played many times, a few would have ended 2-1. Now there is no going back To evaluate project Sjögren, you have to take a few steps back and see it as a whole. You can not just study the England match or a possible brawl against Austria. You have to look at what direction the national team has taken, and what development it has had. The answer is quite simple: None. After a good 2019, the team has at best stood still at the same time as more and more of the players are taking up more space in Europe. The great nations have become even better. The nations behind are approaching considerably. Norway does not keep up. Therefore, it does not help that it is one year until the start of the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. Even if Norway now moves on, it is about what is right for the national team in the long run. It will be a new course anyway – without Sjögren.
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