1 of 6Photo: Bjørn S. Delebekk, VG
VG has been notified that ULLEVAAL STADIUM / LILLESSTRØM (VG) Marius Lodi (28) is joining central defence, while Joshua King will have to settle for a place on the bench when Norway meet Latvia on Saturday.
Unless something unexpected happens, Lode gets a chance at Anders Hanche-Olsen and forms the back row with Marcus Holmgren Pedersen, Stefan Strandberg and Birger Meling.
Prinhetti Matthias Normann Form the midfield duo with Morten Thorsby, while Jens-Peter Hauge, Martin Odegaard and Mohamed El Younosi play behind Alexander Sorloth with a 4-2-3-1 formation.
Solbakken said at a news conference on Friday that the plan is ready, but he has kept the papers close to his chest and will not reveal whether the players have been informed.
– Maybe you’ve already done that, you can ask Jesper (Mathisen), says Solbakken and send a note to the TV 2 expert.
Under Ståle Solbakken, Norway has diversified with different formations and tactics.
It’s very good for us and very good for Ståle, because then he can make changes along the way in matches and special opponents, so it’s a huge advantage,” Alexander Sorloth said at Friday’s press conference.
But so far this fall, Norway has the advantage of playing with “pure strikers”. When asked if it might be relevant on Saturday, Solbakken replied:
There is a 50 percent chance.
The follow-up question didn’t exactly go according to plan…
Real Sociedad striker Sorloth was in a good mood and opened Friday’s session with a joke that the press staff were sitting with his nose at his mobile phone when he took to the podium.
The 25-year-old could be of extra importance in the absence of Erling Braut Haaland, and it’s something he is enjoying. It was not easy to follow the meeting of the previous national team from the sofa.
– It was difficult, especially the Turkey match. I sat with a group of friends and watched the match. It was heavy. I really like to contribute and often get more nervous when I’m not by myself, says Sorloth.
Now, however, the Trøndelag man has shaken off his hoarding injury and is ready for battle.
Joshua King (29), who has yet to start an international game under Ståle Solbakken, recently scored a hat-trick against old club Everton.
“For the first time under my leadership, he is in a place where he receives regular combat training,” Solbakken said of the Watford striker at Wednesday’s press conference.
If Norway win more goals against Latvia, it will increase the possibility that an away draw against the Netherlands will be enough to secure second place in the group, which would mean qualifying for the 2022 World Cup.
There are a lot of people who are in good shape. Our bus also scores a lot of goals, so I think we’ll score a lot anyway. We don’t have a lot of focus on that, we’re thinking of putting in a good game first and foremost.
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