UEFA Nations League B Group 1 moves into the second matchday on Monday as Northern Ireland host Norway in Belfast.
The Northern Irish take a pitiful record against Norway into the matchday 2 fixture. Manager Ian Baraclough’s team have posted a lifetime record of 2W-0D-7L against Norway.
These teams first met in 1974 and experienced the most recent match in 2017. They played twice during World Cup 2018 qualifying with Northern Ireland winning their home fixture 2-0 before dropping the return in Norway 1-0.
Northern Ireland’s win in 2017 at home was just their second against Norway and first victory since 1975. Between those victories, Norway reeled of five straight wins against Northern Ireland.
Baraclough goes into the UEFA Nations League as manager of Northern Ireland after taking over for ex-boss Michael O’Neill. O’Neill left the Northern Ireland position after Euro 2020 qualifying last autumn and took the vacant manager’s position at Stoke City.
The new manager had no warm-up matches for the Nations Leagues and has been dropped in at the deep end. It isn’t great as Baraclough attempts to fuse veteran players with some exciting prospects he coached in Northern Ireland’s U21 team.
Northern Ireland head into the fixture as FIFA’s No. 36 team in the world according to the organisation’s current rankings. They didn't end 2019 in good form posting just two wins from six games in Euro 2020 qualifying and international friendly competition.
They claimed wins versus Luxembourg and Czech Republic but lost heavily to Germany on the final day of Euro qualifying, 6-1.
Norway’s end to 2019 was far better. The Norwegians claimed three wins from six while drawing their other three fixtures. Their wins may have come against Malta (twice) and the Faroe Islands, however, Norway managed draws versus strong Spanish, Swedish, and Romanian teams.
Manager Lars Lagerback has an exciting attack featuring Borussia Dortmund striker Erling Haaland and Real Madrid’s Martin Odergaard. Norway could be on the cusps of a golden generation led by the two exciting attackers.
Haaland has been capped just twice and scored zero goals. He could break his duck against Northern Ireland. Josh King could get a start next to Haaland in attack. The Bournemouth striker has scored 17 goals in 46 international appearances.
Northern Ireland are under new management and should struggle on Monday night at home against an improving Norway. Norway were promoted to League B at the end of the 2018 edition of Nations League.
The Norwegian have a good chance of getting out of League B and should get a win versus Northern Ireland in Belfast on Monday.