FRANCE 98 – Match preview n°35
Norway have recalled Liverpool midfielder Oyvind Leonhardsen for Tuesday’s make-or-break clash against World champions Brazil at the Stade Velodrome in Marseille. Leonhardsen, who replaces Aalborg striker Staale Solbakken, is the only change to the team that drew 1-1 with Scotland in Bordeaux last week-a result which left the Norwegians a point ahead of the Scots going into the final match.
Scotland and Morocco, who both have just one point from their opening two games, meet in Saint Etienne at the same time the Norwegians play Brazil. Leonhardsen said he was expecting Brazil to be as competitive as ever even though they have already qualified for the second stage. ” I don’t think that they will take it easy against us just because they are already qualified, “ said the former Wimbledon star.
” In the World Cup you always want to win and I don’t think Brazil are any exception. They will want to show the World how good they are. Facing Brazil in the World Cup is about the toughest challenge football can offer, but the Norwegians have always been good at rising to the challenge. We’ve had a week to think about what went wrong against Scotland and we know we made a lot of mistakes and did not play that well. “
Norway, who beat Brazil 4-2 last year, will play their normal 4-5-1 formation with Tore Andre Flo the only striker. Norway coach Egil Olsen said his team will need to produce one of Norway’s best ever performances if they are to beat the tournament favourites.
” We will try not to think about what’s happening in the other game, “ he added. ” We have to concentrate on our own job and not be distracted by what is happening elsewhere. At a World Cup you have to stand up and be counted and it is not right to rely on other people for your success. Of course I will be kept informed of the score and say it is 3-0 there and our game is 0-0 then I will know I will have to take a few risks. The heat could be a major problem for us but there is nothing we can do about it. We can hope that it will be minus two but I don’t think we’ll get it.”
Norway arrived in France on a hot streak of form and were tipped by many to make a major impression in the tournament. But they have been a disappointment so far though Olsen rejects accusations that they have been victims of over-confidence.
” The players have never been over-confident, “ said Olsen. ” None of us were saying that we would win our group or beat Brazil or anyhting like that. The public back home may have been over-confident but we never have been. We have not been that happy with our form so far, but we’re not too downhearted either. We’re playing pretty well as I expected, but perhaps a little below our normal standard. “
Defender Dan Eggen admitted Norway’s chances of beating Brazil are slim. He said: ” Realistically, we don’t have much of a chance. They are the World Champions, the favourites and the best team in the world. It would be foolish if I said we were confident of victory because you never can be against Brazil. Stranger things have happened but we will have to be at the very top of our game and hope that they are not at theirs. “
Brazil coach Mario Zagallo says he will not release his side until 45 minutes before the kick-off with Norway next Tuesday. ” Normally I’d give it earlier but this time I want to give Olsen a sleepless night, “ he said. Zagallo was annoyed by Norway coach Egil Olsen’s less-than-complimentary comments about Brazil following Norway’s 4-2 win in a friendly in Oslo last year.
However this week Olsen said he had not meant to imply he was a better coach than Zagallo, merely that Brazil might get something out of his tactics. That only spurred on Zagallo. ” I’m worried about all the sore necks we’ll get, heading away so many high balls, “ he said of Norway’s preferred Route One system. Leonardo was expected to drop deeper to cover for the suspended Cesar Sampaio while Goncalves was expected to come in for Aldair when Brazil play their final Group A match in Marseille.
Following Saturday’s training at Ozoir-la-Ferriere in stifling heat Zagallo indicated he would prefer to keep Roma defender Aldair in reserve and give Goncalves a run out as the reigning champions have already won the group.
Furthermore, Aldair is on one yellow card, and the slate is only wiped clean after the group phase for one card. Any player who picks up two yellow cards is automatically banned for the second round. Emerson may replace Denilson, who did not greatly impress in training and who has flitted in and out of the line-up. Zagallo insisted once again that Brazil would not take their foot off the accelerator against Norway as they want to win every game.