Sports Mole previews Saturday’s friendly clash between Denmark and Norway, including predictions, team news and possible line-ups.
During the second of two 100% Scandinavian friendly matches before Euro 2024, Denmark confront their close neighbors Norway at Brondby Stadium on Saturday evening.
Kasper HjulmandTeam Sweden beat Sweden 2-1 in midweek thanks to the return of a hero, while their visitors were beholden to a regular suspect in their 3-0 win over Kosovo.
Match Preview
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The Premier League stars well and truly flaunted their prowess during Denmark’s clash with Sweden in Copenhagen on Wednesday, where Pierre-Émile Hojbjerg It took only two minutes to break the deadlock before a quick Alexander Isak answer.
However, almost three years after his cardiac arrest at Euro 2020 shook the sport, Christian Eriksen emerged with a stirring 86th-minute winner for his country, who kept their unbeaten record for the year intact thanks in large part to the Manchester United man.
With a 2-0 victory against the Faroe Islands and a 0-0 draw against Switzerland on their 2024 record, Denmark have certainly rectified their mistakes since their surprise 2-0 defeat against Northern Ireland during his last qualifying match for Euro 2024, even if his place in Germany was already assured.
Now Hjulmand’s men have one last chance to force their way into the manager’s good books before battles against England, Serbia and Slovenia in Group C take over, but the manager Denmark have reportedly already submitted their final selection to UEFA before Saturday’s match kicks off. .
Although Isak’s goal ended Denmark’s incredible streak of 11 consecutive clean sheets in home friendlies, the Scandinavian team is now unbeaten in 15 successive exhibition matches at home, and since 2012, she did not lose such a match without scoring.
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While Eriksen delighted in his latest goal for Denmark in midweek, another Manchester-based player stole the spotlight for Norway – as he so often does – as Erling Haaland He single-handedly destroyed Kosovo with a historic hat-trick at the Ullevaal Stadion.
By the 75th minute, the Manchester City talisman had scored another match ball with a 22nd career hat-trick – a number none of Harry Kane, Kylian Mbappé Or Sergio Aguero can boast – with Norway having ended a three-game winless streak in all tournaments.
However, Haaland and co won’t be aiming for European glory alongside Denmark, having only accumulated 11 points in their qualifying section, so all preparation is now geared towards another move to League B of the Nations League alongside from Kazakhstan, Austria and Slovenia.
The Lions arrive in Copenhagen on the back of a run of three consecutive wins in away friendlies, although only one of those successes has come under the wing of the current coach. Stale Solbakkena 2-1 victory against the Republic of Ireland in November 2022.
In fact, Solbakken was part of Norway’s XI when his country last won against Denmark in a clash at the 2000 Nordic Championships. Since then, the Lions have gone winless in five against their hosts, most recently succumbing to a defeat 2-1 in a friendly match in 2013. .
Friendly form of Denmark:
Denmark form (all competitions):
Friendly form of Norway:
Norway form (all competitions):
Team News
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After scoring the winner against Sweden, Eriksen now has 41 goals for the national team and is also on the verge of making appearances history, needing just one more cap to surpass Peter Schmeichel and moves into second all-time with 130.
Simon Kjaer – who leads, albeit narrowly, with 131 caps – was an unused substitute in midweek but could now enter the equation alongside Andreas ChristensenParticularly like Joachim Andersen The success only lasted until half-time in midweek.
Zanka – who was called into the squad as a reserve option for Euro 2024 – replaced the Crystal Palace man for the second 45, and with a quick turnaround in reserve, Morten Hjulmand and Viktor Kristiansen could benefit from some needed rotation.
As for Norway, the 22-year-old AZ Alkmaar defender David Möller Wolfe was forced off the field 15 minutes before normal time against Kosovo, but Solbakken can call on a Champions League finalist to replace him. Julien Ryerson.
The Borussia Dortmund man understandably didn’t earn any minutes against Kosovo after his unsuccessful exploits at Wembley, but should certainly make his case to start this one, where another hat-trick from Haaland would be historic.
The 23-year-old’s midweek hat-trick took him up to 30 goals for the national team in just 32 games, three short of the men’s all-time top scorer. Jorgen Juvewho scored his 33 goals in 45 appearances for the Lions.
Denmark possible starting lineup:
Ronnow; Kristensen, Christensen, Kjaer; Bah, Hjulmand, Hojbjerg, Kristiansen; Eriksen; Hojlund, Dolberg
Possible starting XI for Norway:
Nylande; Ryerson, Gundersen, Ostigard, Ajer; Thorstvedt, Berge; Bobb, Odegaard, Nusa; Haaland
We say: Denmark 2-1 Norway
Denmark have traditionally had Norway’s number since the turn of the millennium, but as was the case against Sweden, their previous penchant for clean sheets at home is unlikely to count for much against their Haaland-inspired visitors.
It’s hard to imagine Solbakken’s men penetrating the Danish brick wall more than once, however, so another close success should be achieved by the hosts in their final tune-up battle.
For data analysis of most likely outcomes, scores and more for this match, please click here.
