The Norwegian U21 national team won the last match in the European Championship qualifier against Azerbaijan at Marienlyst on Tuesday night. – An incredible achievement Jørgen Strand Larsen and Erik Botheim scored Norway’s goal in the 2-1 victory, which means that Norway wins the group and is qualified for the European Championship finals next summer. Match winner Erik Botheim is brilliantly pleased to have sent Norway to the European Championships. – What we have managed now is an incredible achievement, he states to news after the match. He says that Norway was obviously affected by the occasion. – We were not so good today, we were nervous, but it is natural in such an important match. Fortunately, we managed to row it ashore, says the striker. Are you going to follow Norway in the U21 European Championships in 2023? Yes, of course A little No Show result – Erling has nothing to do here Everyone who was born after 1 January 2000 is eligible to play in the European Championships. This includes Erling Braut Haaland. But those who have high hopes that the City striker will play for the U21 national team in the championship next summer, will probably be disappointed. The A national team will play two important European Championship qualifiers in the middle of the U21 European Championships. Norway’s A national team has two matches in the European Championship qualifiers from 16-20. June next year, while the U21 European Championships are played from 9-22. June. In any case, Erik Botheim does not want Haaland to join, he says jokingly. – If Erling comes here, I will be thrown out of the team, so I will ask him to stay on the A national team, Botheim smiles when news asks if he wants to lobby to get Haaland to the U21 European Championships. Botheim believes it would be a wrong priority to use Haaland at a U21 level. – He has nothing down here to do, he states. U21 national team manager Leif Gunnar Smerud does not think it is very likely that he will get one of the world’s best strikers in the squad for the European Championships. – I doubt it. If he wants to, and both the club and the A national team want, I will not stand in the way of that. But now I think we should focus on those who have played us for the European Championships, so we leave it at that, says Smerud. CAN PLAY EM: But probably Erling Braut Haaland is busy with other things next summer. Photo: Javad Parsa / NTB – Dream that comes true The championship will be held in Romania and Georgia from June 9 to July 2, 2023. Smerud is a relieved man after the narrow victory on Tuesday. – It is a dream come true for a team that has fought very hard and made a good qualifier. It is absolutely fantastic, and historic, because it has not happened so often with Norway. We are very proud today, Smerud says to news after the match. He praises his clubless match winner Erik Botheim. – He has done a completely insane job. I think I read that he had gone 170 days without playing games, but then he plays three almost full games and trains well this collection. He is a machine and made an “outstanding” collection both on and off the field for us, Smerud says to news. HAPPY: Leif Gunnar Smerud could cheer for his first playoff game as U-national team manager. Photo: MARIUS SIMENSEN / BILDBYRÅN NORWAY First since 2013 Thus, Norway will play European Championship finals for U21 national teams for the first time since 2013. At that time, Norway reached the semifinals with current A national team players such as Stefan Strandberg, Omar Elabdellaoui and Ørjan Nyland on the team. Smerud believes the team on Tuesday was characterized by high shoulders. – We were affected by the opportunity, so we must be honest. There is a bit of charm in football, it is not often we play such important matches as this. But we managed to row it ashore in the end, says Smerud. The U21 national team manager’s young players have impressed in the qualification and win the group ahead of teams such as Croatia, Finland and Austria. 16 nations participate in the European Championships, and these teams are currently qualified: – Absolutely sick that we have got it to Belgium, England, France, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Germany, Georgia (organizer), Romania (organizer). – It is completely sick that we have made it happen. All honor to Erik (Botheim) who wins the match, but also all honor to the whole team. There are many profiles here who have contributed to this, but who do not score goals or have goalscorers, and praise for the support apparatus around. Even though the match itself is damn bad, says Strand Larsen to news. He would prefer to spend as little time as possible on interviews after the match. Now a celebration awaits throughout the night with the team. – Do not call me tomorrow, at least, says Strand Larsen with a smile. SCORED: Jørgen Strand Larsen. Photo: MARIUS SIMENSEN / BILDBYRÅN NORWAY The NFF boss praises the talent work NFF president Lise Klaveness is proud that the U21 boys secured the European Championship ticket. – It is important for us to get to the championship, it is something we have strategically invested a lot in, Klaveness says to news. The NFF boss believes the European Championship ticket is a result of a lot of good work in Norwegian football. – The fact that you now come to the championship here, and succeed with the A national team in the National League, is a sign that Norwegian top clubs have worked well over time and done insanely well in their talent work, she believes. GOT STRUGGLE: Emil Konradsen Ceide and the Norwegian guys struggled more than expected against Azerbaijan. Photo: Lise Åserud / NTB EC draw in October Which teams Norway will meet will be decided in a draw in Bucharest on 18 October this year. The playoff draw for which teams will meet to secure the last tickets to the European Championships will take place on 21 June. The U21 European Championships will also be a chance for the Norwegian boys to qualify for the Summer Olympics in Paris in 2024. – I think this team here will take this as far as possible. But we had to go to the European Championships first, and now we have managed it, says Smerud. These started for Norway Kristoffer Klaesson, Sebastian Sebulonsen, Henrik Heggheim, Jesper Daland, Fredrik Oppegård, Emil Konradsen Ceide, Johan Hove, Kristian Malt Arnstad, Tobias Christensen, Jørgen Strand Larsen and Erik Botheim (K). A nervous and hesitant Norway struggled for a long time to get a hole in the boil on Tuesday night, but in the second half it loosened up when the Haldenser Strand Larsen put in 1-0 from close range after a nice post along the ground from Viking player Sebastian Sebulonsen. Norwegian giant Ildar Alekperov equalized for the guests when a difficult pass from Markus Solbakken ended with Jesper Daland, who missed the ball, gave Alekperov the ball as the back man. Alone with Kristoffer Klaesson, he made no mistake and put in 1-1. But Norway fought back and increased to 2-1 when clubless Erik Botheim headed in a set piece from Håkon Evjen 13 minutes before the end. It was a victory and a European Championship ticket.
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