The Norway men's national football team are on a run of three consecutive defeats, a poor spell that contrasts with solid club performances from several Norwegian stars this past weekend. This followed a 2-1 loss to Wales on October 1st and a 1-2 home defeat to Portugal on September 27th. Their sole positive result in the last four matches is the 3-2 victory over Denmark on September 24th, leaving a recent form of one win and three losses.
Over the weekend, numerous Norwegian internationals were in action for their clubs across Europe. Erling Haaland started and played the full match for Manchester City, who lost 2-1 to Aston Villa in the Premier League. Martin Ødegaard also played 90 minutes, helping Arsenal to a 2-0 win over Everton.
Mixed results for Norwegian players
Other Norwegian professionals had varying fortunes. Antonio Nusa provided two assists for RB Leipzig in a 4-0 win over Elversberg before being substituted after 72 minutes. His teammate Ørjan Nyland kept a clean sheet in the same match. For Fulham, Oscar Bobb scored the only goal in a 1-0 victory over Coventry, with Sander Berge coming on as a second-half substitute. Bobb had also been on the scoresheet in the previous defeat to Wales.
On the negative side, both Patrick Berg and Odin Bjortuft lost 1-0 with Bodø/Glimt against Vålerenga in the Eliteserien. Thelo Aasgaard played the full match as Anderlecht lost 4-0 to Gent, and David Wolfe featured in a 1-0 defeat for Hamburger SV against Paderborn. Julian Ryerson helped Borussia Dortmund to a 1-0 win over Frankfurt.
Key home fixture against Wales next
The national team's poor form, which now reads one win and three losses from their last four matches, makes the next fixture especially important. Norway host Wales on November 14th in a match the team must win to reverse the trend. The victory over Denmark in September now feels distant, and the team's upcoming schedule will be key for morale.
Despite the individual performances at club level, the Norwegian national side has not found the same rhythm. Back-to-back losses to Wales and Portugal have put the team under pressure. The home match against Wales in two weeks' time represents a chance to bounce back with a squad that, on paper, has many players from Europe's top leagues. It will be a vital turning point for the team's direction.
