Norway are just two points off of World Cup qualifying Group G’s first-place team, the Netherlands, going into the penultimate match of group qualifying.
If Norway win against Latvia, they will play the Netherlands on the final day of Group G qualifying in a winner-take-all fixture for first place and automatic qualification. Group G is tight heading into the weekend with the Netherlands on 19 points, Norway on 17, and Turkey on 15.
Endelig i gang på Ullevaal igjen🇳🇴🏟 pic.twitter.com/6wAKG7wpV2— Fotballandslaget (@nff_landslag) November 9, 2021
Endelig i gang på Ullevaal igjen🇳🇴🏟 pic.twitter.com/6wAKG7wpV2
On Saturday, Latvia will visit Oslo with the chance to play spoilers. A loss for Norway and Turkey win against Gibraltar would send the Turks into second place.
Latvia have already been eliminated from World Cup qualification and are merely playing for pride on Saturday in Oslo. Dainis Kazakevičs’s team are on a four-match winless streak in all competitions. Three of those four matches ended in losses for Latvia.
The reverse fixture between Norway and Latvia ended 2-0 in favour of the Norwegians. Erling Haaland scored a penalty and Mohamed Elyounoussi scored on either side of halftime to give Norway the win.
The problem for Norway and manager Stale Solbakken is Haaland is ruled out of the fixture due to injury. A recurring hip problem has the Borussia Dortmund striker out until December – possibly longer.
Solbakken will likely make use of either Joshua King or Alexander Sorloth as the team’s focal point in attack. Haaland’s boots will be difficult to fill, but against Latvia, King or Sorloth can do it.
Kazakevičs’s Latvia team is expected to be the same one that played against Turkey in October. Although Latvia lost 2-1, they were impressive.
Defender Merih Demirals scored an own goal in the match to give Latvia their only goal of the fixture. Latvia have not scored a goal of their own in four straight matches.
Norway must win against Latvia to keep two points between them and Turkey. Solbakken’s team can still win the group, but they can also finish third and miss out on automatic qualification or playoff qualification.
Latvia have been outscored 13-8 in qualifying. Three of the last four matches in qualifying have ended without Latvia scoring. The pressure will be immense on Norway, however.
Despite the pressure being high and Haaland being on the sidelines with a hip injury, Norway should claim another win to nil over Latvia. The victory will set the Norwegians up for a massive showdown with the Netherlands on the final matchday of the group stage.