Now that the national league is nearing completion, it is even clearer what lies in the pot on Tuesday evening. The premise is as follows: Norway must take at least one point to secure the group winner ahead of Serbia. The group winner in itself provides several advantages, but now it is clear that Norway must win the group to secure a better seeding for the European Championship qualifiers. Norway may well end up at seeding level two with a loss, but that depends, among other things, on Slovenia not taking points against Sweden. If Norway wins the group, Ståle Solbakken’s men end up at seeding level two. If Serbia wins the group, Norway risks ending up at seeding level three. This could – with an unfortunate draw – have major consequences for Norway’s EC road. Now several pieces have fallen into place. Both England and France have dropped to level two, which means that Norway cannot end up in the same qualifying group as the giants if the point is secured at Ullevaal. RUMORS DOWN: Harry Kane and England. Photo: ALBERTO LINGRIA / Reuters Then Norway, England and France will be in the same pot without the possibility of drawing each other. Enormous difference There are still some unsettled places: Norway is in the same boat as, for example, Scotland, Ukraine, Montenegro and, of course, Serbia, all of whom are on the verge of seeding levels two and three before the final round. At the same time, Switzerland (home) and the Czech Republic meet in a pure duel for seeding level one. As an example, news has selected two groups at the extremes: “Best” possible draw at seeding level two, and “worst” possible draw at seeding level three. Photo: JOEL MARKLUND/ANDERS BOINE VERSTAD / Bildbyrån/news “Best case”: Hungary (level 1), Norway, Armenia, Luxembourg and Gibraltar. “Worst case”: Belgium (level 1), France, Norway, Turkey and Belarus. The draw will take place on 9 October. 1st and 2nd place in the qualifying group go directly to the EC. – There is a huge difference, says news’s football expert Åge Hareide. – It is the most important game since the previous playoff. The importance lies in the seeding: A simpler path increases the chance of qualifying for the EC, points out Hareide. news EXPERT: Åge Hareide. Photo: Terje Pedersen / NTB Expert colleague Carl-Erik Torp describes it like this: – The difference is so great that one option means a good path to the EC, while the other means that it probably won’t work. “Dangerous buffer” The aforementioned playoff match was precisely against Serbia in 2020. Expectations were high when Lars Lagerbäck led the troops at Ullevaal in the playoff semi-final, but Serbia was strongest when it mattered most – as so many times before. This time it’s a draw, but that’s exactly what makes Hareide a little nervous. – It is dangerous with that buffer. Norway has by far its greatest strength going forward on the track. In front of a fully equipped Ullevaal, Norway must attack. Serbia is also strongest in the offensive. People were very optimistic before the playoff match, but Serbia has had an ability to decide such matches, says Hareide. IN CANON FORM: Aleksandar Mitrovic scored a hat trick against Sweden on Saturday. Photo: Darko Vojinovic / AP The news expert still holds a button on Norway because of the “leap ahead”. More at stake At least one point and a group win also secures Norway an extra chance in the playoffs if the regular EC qualifiers fail – regardless of the draw. Norway will then face another group winner from level B in the national league in a playoff for the European Championship in spring 2024, unless all the group winners at level B go to the European Championship in the regular qualifiers. Then Norway meets the best-ranked team at level B who are not ready for the EC. Group wins also give promotion to level A in the national league. This means that Norway will meet Europe’s best-ranked team and be seeded at the highest level when the next edition of the national league is played. It will take place in 2024 and 2025 in the lead up to the World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico in 2026. The Norwegian football public will then be guaranteed a series of big matches at the national arena. Solbakken’s men will not least have an even tougher matchup on the way to the next play-off.
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Check this horror scenario for Norway – news Sport – Sports news, results and broadcasting schedule
