This happens if Norway wins the group in the National League – news Sport – Sports news, results and broadcast schedule

There are a number of scenarios that can give Norwegian group victory in the National League group B4. If all goes Norway’s way, the group victory can be secured already on Saturday 24 September. Norway will then play Slovenia at 6 pm, while Serbia will host Sweden in Belgrade at 8.45 pm later that evening. There are several different combinations that give the Norwegian group winner even before Serbia comes to Ullevaal for the last group match on 27 September. What does it take to win the group: If Serbia loses to Sweden in the next match, Norway is the group winner with points against Slovenia. Then Norway will have 13 points (win) or 11 (draw) against Serbia’s 7 points when one match remains. If Serbia plays a draw against Sweden, Norway will be the group winner with a victory against Slovenia. Then Norway will have 13 points against Serbia’s 8 when one match remains. With a Serbian victory against Sweden and a Norwegian draw against Slovenia, Norway will lead the table by one point, which means that they win the group with points against the Serbs at Ullevaal in the last match. If Serbia wins against Sweden, it will hold with Norwegian points against Serbia at Ullevaal in the last group game match on September 27, regardless of how things go for Norway against Slovenia. With a Serbian victory and a Norwegian loss in the next match, both teams will stand with 10 points before the group final. With points against Serbia at Ullevaal, Norway will then be the group winner in a mutual settlement after winning in Belgrade in June. What happens if Norway wins the group? Let us assume that Norway takes care of the good starting point and goes to the top of the National League’s group B4. What happens then? First and foremost, it ensures Norway an extra chance in the playoffs if the ordinary European Championship qualifier fails in 2023. Then Norway will meet another group winner from level B in the National League in the playoffs to the European Championships in spring 2024, unless all group winners at level B go to the European Championships in the usual qualifier. Then Norway meets the best ranked team in the National League level B who are not ready for the European Championships. A group victory also promotes to level A in the National League. This means that Norway will face Europe’s highest ranked team and be seeded at the top level when the next edition of the National League is to be played. It will take place in 2024 and 2025 towards the World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico in 2026. The Norwegian football audience will then be guaranteed a number of major matches at the national arena. As a group winner, Norway is largely guaranteed to be seeded at level 2 when the groups for the ordinary European Championship qualifiers are to be drawn in Frankfurt on 9 October. Uefa is based on the National League ranking when the seeding is to be decided, and it is important for Norway to be ranked among the 20 best nations. A second seed will in all probability make the group in the European Championship qualifiers in 2023 much easier. The two best teams from each qualifying group go straight to the European Championships, and it goes without saying that the chances of qualifying for the European Championships increase when Norway has only one better ranked team than itself in the group. A group victory will also, even though it has not been confirmed by FIFA yet, probably give Norway an easier way to the World Cup in 2026 because the next edition of the National League will probably be part of the European World Cup qualifiers, as it was last. With a group victory in September, Norway will play National League matches against supposedly very strong nations in the next tournament. Nations that will probably be able to qualify for the World Cup without having to take advantage of the extra chance the National League can provide. If you play at level A, as Norway will do next time, thus increases the chance of getting a playoff place via the National League if the ordinary World Cup qualifier fails. WHAT NOW: Erling Braut Haaland and Norway have an excellent chance of winning the group. Photo: JON OLAV NESVOLD / BILDBYRÅN There is therefore a lot in the pot before Norway’s last two matches in the National League will be played in September. After the glorious June rally, there is no doubt that Norway has found both self-confidence and a new lease of life before it is all decided. Norway’s chances are 80 percent The Swedish star journalist Erik Niva, known for his good pen in Aftonbladet and for the highly acclaimed When We Were Kings podcast, believes Norway now finally manages to qualify for a championship again. – I would say that Norway’s chances are at 80 percent, but I still think Sweden is at 75 percent. Since the European Championships have been extended now, I think both will go to a European Championships with 24 teams. I think Sweden can do it, but I’m even more confident in Norway. There will be an end to the drought now, Niva says to news. He has in fact been greatly impressed by Norway in 2022. – Over two games against Sweden, I think Norway is clearly better. I think Norway is better individually with Erling Braut Haaland, Martin Ødegaard and maybe even Alexander Sørloth, but you are also better collectively. Ståle Solbakken has been doing his thing for a long time, and there is another clarity. There is another security in the system, Niva believes. Then it remains to be seen if it holds for the championship this time. Will Norway come to the European Championships in 2024? Yes, this time it goes No, Norway must again see a championship from the couch Show result



ttn-69