Spain-Norway is a match from the first day of Group A of Euro 2024 qualifiers and is played on Saturday at 20:45: TV, likely line-ups, predictions.
The revolution has only just begun in Spain. There is no longer Luis Enrique at the helm of La Roja, who has paid dearly for his unsuccessful expedition to Qatar.
The former Roma and Barcelona coach was torpedoed in the aftermath of the elimination in the round of 16 against Morocco. In fact, Morata and his team-mates had not enchanted even in the group stage, excluding the resounding victory in the opener against Costa Rica. Luis De La Fuente, the former Athletic Bilbao coach who has led the Spanish Under-21 team in recent years and achieved important results, such as the triumph in the 2019 European Championships organised by Italy, took his place. A man who knows Iberian football inside out and who is being asked to carry out a not easy restyling operation. Having cut the umbilical cord with the golden generation – one of the last to retire was Sergi Busquets – De La Fuente will have to evolve the game of a national team that at the World Cup appeared decidedly lacking in substance, ‘mirroring’ itself a little too much in ball possession. Now it’s time to turn the page, and in Group A the biggest pitfalls are Scotland, Norway and Georgia, but Roja have a great opportunity to start on the right foot, facing the Norwegians in Malaga without their best player, Erling Haaland.
Norway without Haaland
Manchester City’s outstanding centre-forward has been sidelined by injury and has immediately returned to England. An absence that could prove crucial for Stale Solbakken’s Scandinavians, who in any case can count on several interesting players, from Arsenal’s Odegaard to Roma’s Solbakken.
Sand and Solbakken
Norway has all the credentials to aim for at least second place and thus redeem their failure to participate in the last World Championship. It will be up to Solbakken to deputise for Haaland, surrounded by Elyounoussi and Strand Larsen. Odegaard will instead settle in midfield, alongside Aursnes and former Sampdorian Thorsby. De La Fuente is also likely to use the same formation, although he will be without Pedri, Gerard Moreno and Gil. There are as many as fifteen new players in the call-ups compared to the World Cup squad. Most of the changes are in the attack, where Nico Williams, Morata – as the new captain – and Dani Olmo should play. This will be the eighth head-to-head match between the two selections: in the previous ones there is a domination of Spain, which has prevailed on five occasions. Only one success for Norway, dating back to 2000.
The Prediction
Norway, despite being without Haaland, could create some headaches for a Spain that is at the dawn of a new cycle. Roja’s victory does not seem in question but it is likely to be less obvious than expected. The total number of goals could be less than four in the match in Malaga.
Spain v Norway: likely line-ups
- SPAIN (4-3-3): Kepa; Carvajal, Nacho, Laporte, Balde; Gavi, Rodri, Dani Ceballos; Nico Williams, Morata, Dani Olmo.
- NORWAY (4-3-3): Karlström; Ryerson, Ajer, Östigard, Meling; Aursnes, Thorsby, Odegaard; Elyounoussi, Solbakken, Strand Larsen.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 1-0
