Norway's squad

[pokemoncards]

GK:
Espen Johnsen, Rosenborg
Jan Kjell Larsen, Haugesund

DEF:
Jon Inge Høiland, Malmö FF
Jarl André Storbæk, Vålerenga
André Muri, Vålerenga
Frode Kippe, Lillestrøm
Bård Borgersen, Start
Brede Hangeland, Viking
Trond Erik Bertelsen, Fredrikstad
Erlend Hanstveit, Brann

MID:
Alex Valencia, Start
Bjørn Helge Riise, Lillestrøm (Younger brother of John Arne, not as good)
Kristofer Hæstad, Start
Christian Grindheim, Vålerenga
Tommy Svindal Larsen, Odd Grenland
Tomasz Sokolowski, FC Lyn Oslo
Magne Hoseth, Vålerenga
Petter Vaagan Moen, Ham-Kam

ATT:
Espen Olsen, Ham-Kam
Sigurd Rushfeldt, Austria Wien
Ole Martin Årst, Tromsø
Daniel Fredheim Holm, Vålerenga

[swedust]

Which of these guys plays for that team with the giant pig on the front of their uniform from the sponsor?

Anyone else see that pic in the Yanks Abroad Photos thread w/Adin Brown?

Sorry; not a constructive post.

[Davids26]

A question I pose to all the Norwegian Footballing experts we have on the USMNT boards:

How good of a squad is this?

[jpg75]

Which of these guys plays for that team with the giant pig on the front of their uniform from the sponsor?

Anyone else see that pic in the Yanks Abroad Photos thread w/Adin Brown?

Sorry; not a constructive post.

Wasn't Adin Brown at Rosenborg at one point? Or maybe he trialed there...that could be it....Speaking of Rosenborg, with Johnsen playing GK against the USA that explains why CMNT goalie Lars Hirschfeld is back in Trondheim...

[m vann]

Brede Hangeland of Viking is Houston born and I believe lived most of his childhood there. He's a very, very solid defender who's starting to draw some attention from EPL clubs. I wanna say Everton or one of the trio of Birmingham clubs. Since the trasfer window has opened there's a chance he won't plat against us as Viking will probably get an offer for him.

[sidefootsitter]

A question I pose to all the Norwegian Footballing experts we have on the USMNT boards: How good of a squad is this? Not an expert but, having seen extensive Tippaliga highlights, it's a professional squad; not terribly athletic by the US standards; but will play fast; good in finding open space; not much one-on-one dribbling, is missing several regulars but Rushfeldt is a bear in the box and it suits the Norwegian style of play.

They'll be a tougher opponent if they scout the US and game-plan but they may not do that and just decide to look at its newer Nats.

[sidefootsitter]

This was Norway's squad vs. Czechia for their final WCQ match on Nov, 16th:


Thomas Myhre 1
Erik Hagen 3
Brede Hangeland 4
Jon Inge Hoiland 2
Kristofer Haestad 7
Morten Gamst Pedersen 9
John Arne Riise 5
Fredrik Stromstad 8
John Carew 10
Thorstein Helstad 6
Steffen Iversen 11

Substitutes
Espen Johnsen 12
Andre Bergdolmo 13
Claus Lundekvam 14
Jan Gunnar Solli 16
Ole Martin Aarst 18
M Johnsen 15
Sigurd Rushfeldt 17
---------------------------

Big difference vs. the touring roster seems to be the absence of the attacking half of the team. Carew is with Lyon now. JA Riise is with Liverpool. Pedersen is with Blackburn. Iversen is an ex-Hotspur and there are always rumours of him going to an EPL or a Colaship squad. Ole Gunnar Solksjaer was still recovering from his injury at that time and is only coming back to ManU now.

Edit: Hoiland was just transferred to Kaiserslautern from Malmo.

[Shaydee]

Speaking of Rosenborg, with Johnsen playing GK against the USA that explains why CMNT goalie Lars Hirschfeld is back in Trondheim...


They're out of season in Norway so I don't think that is the reason.


Hangeland is wanted by Leeds and Sheffield United.
http://home.skysports.com/list.asp?hlid=350011&CPID=10&CLID=&lid=12&title=Blades+join+Hangeland+hunt&channel=scandinavia

[jonny63]

Norway will only play with domestic players who are very inexperienced.

Latest news today is that Sigurd Rushfeldt and Jon Inge Høiland will not go to USA. They were one of the few experienced players in the squad.

Replaced by Steinar Pedersen and Stian Ohr.

Anyway USA will also use just domestic players :)

[Start fan in exile]

A question I pose to all the Norwegian Footballing experts we have on the USMNT boards:

How good of a squad is this?

It's a young squad with none of the "stars" from the bigger Euro leagues; now that Høiland and Rushfeld are out, all the players are from the domestic Tippeligaen.

In goal, Espen Johnsen is the regular national team backup to Thomas Myhre, and has been the starting GK with Rosenborg for the past couple of seasons. When he is on he is as good as anyone in Europe; however, he is also prone to horrific blunders and has had some truly terrible games.

Jan Kjell Larsen is the starting GK for the U-21 squad and many consider him the greatest keeper talent since Erik Thorstvedt.

The defense is a mixed bag. Frode Kippe, Bård Borgersen (central defenders) and Steinar Pedersen (right back) are all cagy veterans who play a "take no prisoners" style. Of the 3, only Borgersen has been called up for regular duty this past year.

Brede Hangeland is undoubtedly the up-and-coming star of the nowegian defense, who has great skill and leadership abilities. As others have noted, he may not make the trip as he wants a transfer to the Premier League and Viking will comply with his request if they get a good offer.

The rest are young players who have done well domestically and with youth squads, and Hareide will be testing them to see who will join the squad for Euro 2008 qualifying.

In midfield, Hæstad and Grindheim have been the darlings of norwegian soocer for the past year, and would be the starting central duo no matter what the stakes. Hæstad is the "energiser bunny" who simply never stops, and harasses and neutralises opponents. Grindheim is not quite as good a tackler (although he's no slouch) but is a little more creative and a better passer.

Tommy Svindal Larsen and Magne Hoseth are veteran players; both are very skilled but neither has ever been able to live up to his potential on a consistent basis. Hoseth in particular had a disappointing season last year.

Valencia is a pure right winger with a sublime passing foot and good speed. He was one of the best players in Tippeligean last year for Start, but has not found his comfort level with the national squad. Norway needs his attacking ability,, and we are all hoping this trip will be his breakthrough.

Bjørn Helge Riise (RW), Tomasz Sokolowski and Petter Vaagan Moen (LW) are all rising stars who have played with the U-21 squad and this will be their senior squad debut.

In attack, Ole Martin Årst is big, strong, skilled and puts the ball in the net. The past year he has probably been the second best norwegian striker after John Carew, and this has gained him some attention from the continent: today's rumour mill has Hertha Berlin making a pitch for him, but Tromsø will not be eager to let him go.

Stian Ohr (called in to replace Rushfeld) is a skilled player who can play on the wing or up front; in the past he has been excluded from the national team more because of attitude than talent, but he has the speed and ability to turn a match.

Espen Olsen and Daniel Fredheim Holm are both youngsters who are along for the experience. If they keep improving at their current rate they will become national team regulars in 3-4 years, but I don't think they're there yet.

[swedust]

Excellent summary, Start Fan In Exile, thanks.

Curious what the general expectation of Norwegian fans is for this trip, both against Mexico and USA. (Or is it one of the other friendly opponents that is also playing v. Mexico? Can't remember.)

[Start fan in exile]

Excellent summary, Start Fan In Exile, thanks.

Curious what the general expectation of Norwegian fans is for this trip, both against Mexico and USA. (Or is it one of the other friendly opponents that is also playing v. Mexico? Can't remember.)

Nowegian fans tend to have somewhat unrealistic expectations, and will be looking for two victories. :) We have been spoiled past years with these january trips playing teams like Hong Kong or Jordan...

Personally, I am more interested in individual player performances than a result - many of these players will be expected to carry Norway to Euro 2008 and WC2010, and I want to see them play well against strong opposition.

[jpg75]

They're out of season in Norway so I don't think that is the reason.


Hangeland is wanted by Leeds and Sheffield United.
http://home.skysports.com/list.asp?hlid=350011&CPID=10&CLID=&lid=12&title=Blades+join+Hangeland+hunt&channel=scandinavia

Yes, but Rosenborg is currently playing in the Royal Cup competition in Scandanavia

[Jagermeister]

[QUOTE=Start fan in exile]Nowegian fans tend to have somewhat unrealistic expectations, [QUOTE]

There are fans out there who have realistic expectations for their team?

What country would that be?

[Start fan in exile]

Yes, but Rosenborg is currently playing in the Royal Cup competition in Scandanavia

Rosenborg is still alive in the UEFA cup competition, and Hareide agreed to give all their players with the exception of Johnsen a break from the NT so they can prepare for their upcoming meeting with Zenit St. Petersburgh.

Vålerenga, Start, Lillestrøm and Lyn are the norwegian teams playing in the scandinavian Royal League (top 4 teams from Norway, Sweden and Denmark play for cash and scandinavian bragging rights)

By the way, I should make a correction to my earlier post: Espen Olsen is not a young talent at all; he is a 26-year-old late bloomer (he's only been playing in the top flight for 2 years which is why I thought he was still quite young). He's exceptionally fast and a good dribbler.

[Start fan in exile]

Nowegian fans tend to have somewhat unrealistic expectations,

There are fans out there who have realistic expectations for their team?

What country would that be?

:D
We can be even more optimistic than most...

Also, the US is an unknown quantity to Norwegians. A couple of Americans play in Tippeligaen - Adin Brown with Aalesund (relegated at the end of the season) and Brian West with Fredrikstad - but nothing is really known about the national squad. Many Norwegians will be expecting an easy victory...

[Onionsack]

:D
We can be even more optimistic than most...
Many Norwegians will be expecting an easy victory...

Just what we like to hear. ;)

[jpg75]

Rosenborg is still alive in the UEFA cup competition, and Hareide agreed to give all their players with the exception of Johnsen a break from the NT so they can prepare for their upcoming meeting with Zenit St. Petersburgh.

Vålerenga, Start, Lillestrøm and Lyn are the norwegian teams playing in the scandinavian Royal League (top 4 teams from Norway, Sweden and Denmark play for cash and scandinavian bragging rights).

I stand corrected.

So if Johnsen is across the pond playing the US and Hirschfeld is ineligible to play in Europe for another club, who is going to be in net for Rosenborg against Zenit?

[Start fan in exile]

I stand corrected.

So if Johnsen is across the pond playing the US and Hirschfeld is ineligible to play in Europe for another club, who is going to be in net for Rosenborg against Zenit?

The UEFA tie isn't 'til sometime in February - Johnsen will be back with Rosenborg well before then. I'm guessing Hareide and Høgmo (Rosenborg's coach) figured it would be better training for Johnsen to play an international friendly than practice with his teammates this month.

[Jagermeister]

:D
We can be even more optimistic than most...

Also, the US is an unknown quantity to Norwegians. A couple of Americans play in Tippeligaen - Adin Brown with Aalesund (relegated at the end of the season) and Brian West with Fredrikstad - but nothing is really known about the national squad. Many Norwegians will be expecting an easy victory...

I guess Ramiro Corrales at Ham Kam hasn't left an impression.

Robbie Russel did OK in Norway and his first year at RBK before the injury - please come back healthy Robbie.

Just let your friends know that it seems when players careers here in MLS are ready to die, they go to Norway (smiley face here - don't know how to do it).
Remember, our guys in Norway have no chance of making the Nats, that's why they go to Norway!

As for more optimistic than most? Wow. That is an optimisim I can't even comprehend!

Then again, as a US fan, everybody is optimistic against the US, so we are used to it -

and full of the most lame excuses ever after the match. We are used to that also.

(If it doesn't come across - all tongue and cheek stuff here! Best of luck!)