2024-09-10 10:45:28
Superstar Erling Haaland gives Norway the perfect start to the Nations League. Things aren’t going so well for one of his teammates, however.
Led by a strong Erling Haaland, the Norwegian national team won 2-1 against Austria in the Nations League. The former BVB striker, who plays for English champions Manchester City, sealed the deal for coach Staale Solbakken’s team with his goal in the 80th minute.
Before that, however, the hosts had experienced a moment of shock in Oslo’s Ullevaal Stadium. Midfielder Martin Odegaard remained lying on the field after a tackle and put his hands over his face. His pain was apparently so great that tears flowed from his eyes. The Arsenal London star had apparently twisted his foot in the 64th minute. He was unable to continue.
Odegaard had to be helped off the pitch by the Norwegian team. Further examinations will be needed to determine how serious the injury is and whether the midfielder will also be out for his club.
Haaland consoled his teammate on the way to the catacombs before he shot his team to victory and second place in the table a short time later. The striker’s goal was initially disallowed for offside, but was then counted after a video review.
After two matchdays, Norway is now level on points with league leader Slovenia (four points each), who won against Kazakhstan. Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko was the match winner in the 3-0 (2-0) victory with his goals in the 23rd, 28th and 63rd minutes.
For Austria’s German coach Ralf Rangnick, however, the situation in Group 3 in League B looks somewhat precarious. After a draw in the opening match against Slovenia and a defeat against Norway, the team led by the former Manchester United coach is condemned to win in the coming matches.
The coach, who had turned down a possible position on the bench at FC Bayern Munich in the summer, was clearly disappointed after the Norway game. “It’s no use, we lost,” said Rangnick, according to the Austrian newspaper “Kronen”. “Now we have to make sure we win the next home games, then everything is still possible.”