| NORWAY
Best finals record:
First appearance
Qualification record:
Won Group Two
|
Tore Andre Flo
|
Coach: Nils Johan Semb
Squad: Frode Olsen, Thomas Myhre,
Espen Baardsen, Andre Bergdolmo, Henning Berg, Bent Skammelsrud,
Vidar Riseth,
Erik Mykland,
Stale Solbakken,
Vegard Heggem, Steffen Iversen, Tore Andre Flo, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Trond Andersen, John Arne Riise, Eirik Bakke, John Carew, Kjetil Rekdal, Bjorn Otto Bragstad, Morten Bakke, Roar Strand, Orjan Berg, Dan Eggen.
Prospects
Norway have been riding on a crest of a wave during the 90's and particularly last year.
Only a defeat by Germany in a friendly on November 14 in Oslo ruined what would have been a flawless 1999.
A Mehmet Scholl goal denied Norway an unbeaten record in 1999 a feat they have not achieved since 1934. Previous to the defeat they had been on a scintillating run of 15 games without loss which included nine wins in succession.
The Scandinavian team will be making its first appearance in the Euro 2000 finals. And no longer can Norway be considered as rank outsiders after a decade where they have proved themselves among the best not only in Europe but in the world.
This was never more evident than when they defeated then World Cup champions Brazil 2-1 in France 98 during the group stages.
They have made the World Cup finals in both 1994 and 1998 under the regime of Egil "drillo" Olsen and Nils Johan Semb has continued the good work with qualification for the tournament in Belgium and Holland despite an opening defeat in their campaign at home to Latvia.
Traditionally Norway have been cast as a team that utilises the long ball game but they aren't simply a kick-and-run team any more.
With players like Erik Mykland in midfield providing an extra edge with his neat skills and vision, they have a team capable of breaching any defence. And a plethora of strikers like Tore Andre Flo, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer sees them as a tantalising attacking outfit.
Qualification for Euro 2000 was a must and they completed the task in hand comfortably with seven wins in the qualifiers.
Semb regards Spain as favourites to progress from Group C but he will surely fancy his own team's chances with the attacking options he has at his disposal.