Two nations already out of contention to reach Euro 2024 automatically face off in a friendly on Thursday, when Norway host the Faroe Islands in an all-Nordic affair.
Both are unlikely to earn a route in via the playoffs either, with Norway looking set for a 12th straight failure to reach a major tournament.
© Reuters
October’s internationals did not go to plan for Norway, as their automatic qualification hopes ended with defeat against Spain.
It was an uphill task ever since they were beaten by Scotland in extraordinary circumstances in June, conceding two last-minute goals to lose after leading heading into the final few moments.
It is Scotland who Norway will face in their final qualifier next week at Hampden Park, but their fate is completely out of their hands when it comes to claiming a playoff spot.
Each playoff spot is allocated based on performances in the Nations League last year, and Norway’s position in the standings means they need two of Israel, Finland, Ukraine and Iceland to qualify automatically for them to get a place.
All four of those nations are not fancied to progress in the top two of their respective groups, making it increasingly unlikely Norway will have the chance to play for a spot at the finals next summer.
While the Faroe Islands have been the whipping boys in a very intriguing Group E, they still mathematically have a chance of reaching the playoff, but it is arguably the most remote of any nation still in contention.
© Reuters
They would need a miraculous scenario which would see all of Greece, Kazakhstan, Luxembourg and Kosovo to qualify automatically, and in turn, passing down a playoff spot to them in Path C.
That is because they had a relatively impressive Nations League campaign of their own, which saw them beat Turkey and draw with Luxembourg – taking eight points from six games in a tough League C group.
While their Euro qualifying group has not lived up in quite the same way, the Faroes have been competitive, despite losing all six group games since a matchday one draw with Moldova.
For the most part, the Faroes have put up a good fight against much stronger nations, as their last outing saw the Czech Republic need a late Tomas Soucek penalty to win 1-0, while they also kept the score down to 2-0 in both meetings with Poland.
On the final matchday, Hakan Ericson‘s men will face an Albania side who may already have their qualification secured if they manage to pick up at least a point against Moldova this week.
© Reuters
Against weaker opposition and with a qualifier to come next week, manager Stale Solbakken will likely make a number of changes to his side here.
Arsenal’s Martin Odegaard has not travelled after missing their last three games, instead focusing on his recovery ahead of the return of club action.
Erling Haaland is in the squad, but it is unlikely he will feature from the start in this one, while youngster Antonio Nusa and goalkeeper Orjan Nyland have pulled out with injury.
That means the three keepers in the Norway squad have one cap between them, which belongs to Egil Selvik, but Solbakken may be tempted into giving debuts to both Mathias Dyngeland and Viljar Myhra in either half here.
The Faroes are set to start with two Norway-based players for their trip to Oslo, as Fredrikstad duo Brandur Hendriksson and Joannes Bjartalid are established squad members.
KI Klaksvik have made history recently as the first Faroese to qualify and win a UEFA group stage match, and Jakup Andreasen should feature having been one of the players who scored in their 3-0 win over Olimpija Ljubljana, along with club mates Odmar Faero and the returning Heini Vatnsdal.
Norway possible starting lineup:
Dyngeland; Pedersen, Ajer, Ostigard, Bjorkan; Thorstvedt, Berge, Aursnes; Solbakken, Larsen, Bobb
Faroe Islands possible starting lineup:
Lamhauge; Joensen, Vatnsdal, Faero, Nattestad, Davidsen; S Vatnhamar, Andreasen, Hendriksson, Bjartalid; J S Edmundsson
The Faroes have never scored a goal against Norway, losing friendlies in 1992 and 1993 by scorelines of 2-0 and 7-0, respectively, and 2-0 and 4-0 in Euro 2020 qualifying, and a repeat is more than likely here.
Even without Odegaard, and most likely Haaland, Norway should cruise to a victory against their fellow Nordic nation as they will hope to go out on a high against Scotland next week.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Subscribe to our newsletter
