Norway and Netherlands will clash on Wednesday, September 1, at Ullevål Stadion, in Group G’s fourth round of play in World Cup 2020 Qualifications. The Netherlands last met with Norway in 2009, when they won 2-0, marking their fourth consecutive head-to-head win against their northern neighbors.
Norway vs Netherlands
When: Wednesday, September 1 – 20:45 CEST
Where: Ullevål Stadion in Oslo, Norway
Weather: Clear, 18°C
Referee: Szymon Marciniak (POL)
Netherlands will take a trip to Norway on Wednesday for their fourth match of World Cup 2020 qualifications. It will mark their first meeting with the Scandinavian country since 2009 when they beat Norway 2-0 in the World Cup qualifications. They will look to emulate that success today and take one step closer to international football, following a disappointing exit from the 1/8 finals of Euro 2020.
Rune Jarstein Out For Norway
Norway will enter this match without their goalkeeper Rune Jarstein, who is self-isolating due to a positive COVID-19 test. In his place, Ståle Solbakken called Orjan Nyland, who is set to start between the bars in today’s match.
Kristoffer Ajer and Stian Rode Gregersen are joining him in the back, with the 22-year-old Martin Odegaard taking over the captain armband. Jens Petter Hauge could join him in the midfield; alternatively, the Norway boss could give the nod to Mohamed Elyounouss.
In the attack, we will see Borussia Dortmund star Erling Haaland, who will partner with Either Alexander Sorloth. Joshua King is an alternative option, although he hasn’t started in any of Norway’s last eight matches, so it’s likely that he will start today’s match on the bench.
Norway enter this bout with a 3-2 record from their last five. That run includes wins against Gibraltar (3-0), Montenegro (1-0), and Luxembourg (1-0), and two losses against Turkey (0-3) and Greece (1-2).
At home, Norway are 3-2 in their last five, with wins against Romania (4-0), Northern Ireland (1-0), and Luxemburg (1-0). Their two home losses came against Turkey and Greece.
Netherlands Welcome back Van Dijk
Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk will return to his international duties after the 30-year-old missed much of last year due to an injury. He is expected to captain his national team and serve as an engine in the back, alongside Stefan de Vrij and Matthijs de Ligt.
Louis van Gaal is expected to use a 3-5-2 formation, with the three defenders shielding Tim Krul and Frenkie De Jong, Marten de Roon, and Georginio Wijnaldum in the midfield. Memphis Depay will lead the attack, where he will partner with Wout Weghorst or Donyell Malen.
Netherlands enter this match with a 4-1 record in their last five, which includes four wins against Georgia (3-0), Ukraine (3-2), Austria (2-0), and North Macedonia (3-0). The Dutch only loss over that stretch happened against the Czech Republic (0-2) in the 1/8 finals of Euro 2020.
On the road, Netherlands are 3-1-1 in their last five, with a draw against European champions Italy (1-1) and a loss against Turkey (2-4). If we look further back, Netherlands have suffered only one away loss in their last 10, along with three draws – against North Macedonia (0-0) and Bosnia & Herzegovina (0-0).
Norway vs Netherlands Betting Pick
Van Gaal came out of retirement at the start of August to take over the Oranje, which is anything but a negative. With the former Ajax and Barcelona coach in charge, we can expect his side to be more pragmatic and efficient – ultimately, that is what is required to win.
The Netherlands are 4-1-0 in the head-to-head with Norway across their last four meetings and hold a respectable 8-1 aggregate score over that stretch. The last time Norway won this affair was in 1992 in the World Cup qualifiers, as their only victory against the Oranje once since these two sides first met in 1972.
Prediction: Netherlands to win – 1.94 at Unibet, 1.91 at Betvictor, 1.89 at Sportmarket
