Norway
Group D: Brazil, Equatorial Guinea, Australia
Background: another traditional powerhouse, but their star has somewhat fallen with lacklustre performances in the recent Euros and World Cups. somehow reached the semi-finals of euro 2009, beating sweden 3-0 with something like 3 shots.
Tactics: 4-5-1, focusing on keeping things tight at the back before trying to launch a counterattack.
strength: physical presence
weakness: no ideas in attack, lack of creativity
key players:
trine roenning
it seems like roenning will be playing in centre midfield for this tournament. norway's most experienced player. norway will count on her to organise the midfield pressing and launch the counters.
ingrid hjelmseth
solid keeper who has already saved her team on countless occasions. good shot-stopper and reads crosses well.
maren mjelde
only 21 years old, but i think she is already the senior member in central defence, with her partner in euro 2009 moving up to midfield. lots of heart and commitment. courageous defending will be needed and she will provide that.
players to watch
cecilie pedersen
20 year old forward playing in the 3rd division, but hailed as the great talent. she has lots of confidence, attempting an audacious lob in the friendly against germany. a lot of burden is resting on her young shoulders, being the lone striker.
lena mykjaland
making her return to the international team after a self-imposed exile following a disagreement with the former coach. hopefully she will be raring to go.
starting lineup
based on what i saw in the game against germany, i would play
hjelmseth
berge-lund-mjelde-knutsen
roenning-stensland
kaurin-mykjaland-giske
pedersen
i do think norway has good attackers in pedersen, giske, kaurin and mykjaland. the problem is that they don't have someone who can playmake and bring out the talents of these 4 attackers.
outlook: i think norway will be fighting with australia for 2nd place. i won't bet against them frustrating and holding brazil to a draw. to go far, however, they would either need to sort out their attack, or have everything go their way, like the game against Sweden in 2009.
look factor: i think norway are early favourites to be the cutest team in the tournament. what i mean is not that every player is super hot, but that when you look at the whole team, it is a group of very pleasant girls. the whole package. maybe it is barney stinson's cheerleader effect. but they do have cuties like madeleine giske, lene mykjaland, ingrid ryland, maren mjelde, guro knutsen mienna, leni larsen kaurin, ingrid hjelmseth and erika skarbo.
Background: another traditional powerhouse, but their star has somewhat fallen with lacklustre performances in the recent Euros and World Cups. somehow reached the semi-finals of euro 2009, beating sweden 3-0 with something like 3 shots.
Tactics: 4-5-1, focusing on keeping things tight at the back before trying to launch a counterattack.
strength: physical presence
weakness: no ideas in attack, lack of creativity
key players:
trine roenning
it seems like roenning will be playing in centre midfield for this tournament. norway's most experienced player. norway will count on her to organise the midfield pressing and launch the counters.
ingrid hjelmseth
solid keeper who has already saved her team on countless occasions. good shot-stopper and reads crosses well.
maren mjelde
only 21 years old, but i think she is already the senior member in central defence, with her partner in euro 2009 moving up to midfield. lots of heart and commitment. courageous defending will be needed and she will provide that.
players to watch
cecilie pedersen
20 year old forward playing in the 3rd division, but hailed as the great talent. she has lots of confidence, attempting an audacious lob in the friendly against germany. a lot of burden is resting on her young shoulders, being the lone striker.
lena mykjaland
making her return to the international team after a self-imposed exile following a disagreement with the former coach. hopefully she will be raring to go.
starting lineup
based on what i saw in the game against germany, i would play
hjelmseth
berge-lund-mjelde-knutsen
roenning-stensland
kaurin-mykjaland-giske
pedersen
i do think norway has good attackers in pedersen, giske, kaurin and mykjaland. the problem is that they don't have someone who can playmake and bring out the talents of these 4 attackers.
outlook: i think norway will be fighting with australia for 2nd place. i won't bet against them frustrating and holding brazil to a draw. to go far, however, they would either need to sort out their attack, or have everything go their way, like the game against Sweden in 2009.
look factor: i think norway are early favourites to be the cutest team in the tournament. what i mean is not that every player is super hot, but that when you look at the whole team, it is a group of very pleasant girls. the whole package. maybe it is barney stinson's cheerleader effect. but they do have cuties like madeleine giske, lene mykjaland, ingrid ryland, maren mjelde, guro knutsen mienna, leni larsen kaurin, ingrid hjelmseth and erika skarbo.
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home