Shock result - terrible note for Norway to set out for the US on. This wasn't just some friendly to tinker with either, this was a Euro qualifier. Denmark now has an excellent chance of avoiding the playoff to qualify for Euro 2005.
Disappointing, but not Shocking Ending up with a 1-1 draw a home after giving up a questionable goal very late in the match was a disappointing result for the Norwegians, but I wouldn't go so far as to say it was a "shock result" or a "terrible note for Norway to set out for the US on." Norway dominated most of this match and with better finishing by Dagny Mellgren the Norwegians could have had a two or three goal lead late in the match. Denmark has a good team and Lene Jensen is a very good player that you will probably be hearing a lot more about in the future. Back in February Norway played a couple of friendly matches against Denmark in La Manga, Spain winning the second 4-0 after managing only a 3-3 draw in the first match when Lene Jensen recorded a very impressive hat trick. The winner of this group will likely be decided when Norway plays Denmark next year on Danish soil. Even though the result of yesterday's match was disappointing, the Norwegians have to feel good about the fact that Marianne Pettersen scored in her second straight National Team match since coming out of retirement. Before Pettersen rejoined the National Team, Norway was mainly using Dagny Mellgren as their lone striker in a 4-5-1 formation. Now teams playing Norway will have to contend with two world class strikers and can't just key on shutting down Mellgren in order to stop Norway's attack. It will be interesting to see what lineup and formation Coach Åge Steen will use against France. After using Unni Lehn for 81 minutes at right back yesterday, I have a feeling that Steen will be starting Lehn at right back over the much less experienced Gunhild Følstad in Norway's opening WC match. With Lehn at right back, Steen can use a 4-4-2 formation with Mellgren and Pettersen starting on top and then in the midfield along with playmaker Lise Klaveness and the always dangerous Solveig Gulbrandsen, Steen can also start both Anita Rapp and Trine Rønning and use the now healthy Linda Ørmen as his first midfield substitute.