U21 national team, U21-EM | Norway wins the group final in the European Championship qualifier against Croatia
To win the group, Norway must win the last three matches in the European Championship qualifiers. We think they can handle that.
The U21 national team will meet Croatia, Finland and Azerbaijan in the European Championship qualifiers in June. To go to the European Championships, Norway must win all the matches.
Norway’s U21 group wide open. It is likely to be a thriller ending to the European Championship qualifiers. If the Norwegian U21 boys win the key match against Croatia on Friday, they will be able to control their own destiny.
Here you can bet on a Norwegian victory against Croatia at 2.45 in odds
But then they have to do something only a Norwegian U21 or A national team has managed before: To win against Croatia.
When the U21 teams met at Gradski Sadion Varteks in October last year, Croatia won 3-2. Thus, Norway has lost all four U21 internationals they have played against the Croatians since 2009. The goal difference shows 4-13 in favor of the team from the Balkans.
See the brand new away kit for Norway’s national team here
The Norwegian A national team for men has only won once against Croatia on the football field. They have played five matches against the Croatians since 2007, and the only victory came in the European Championship qualifiers in 2015. Then Norway won 2-0 at Ullevaal.
On Friday, we think the Norwegian U-21 boys can do the same.
Norway U21 – Croatia U21
Odds: Norway wins – 2.45 in odds
Match start Friday 3. June at 6 p.m.
Game stop at 17.59 Live odds after match start
Marienlyst
We believe that Norway will win against Croatia. You can bet on her at 2.45 in odds
The Norwegian U21 national team has not been in the championship since 2013. Under Leif Gunnar Smerud, who is in his fourth qualifier as U21 coach, Norway has still not succeeded in making it to the European Championships.
This time they have a good opportunity to do it, but then they have to beat Croatia in Friday’s match at Marienlyst. We think the Norwegian boys can do that.
Norway has an exciting team with players such as Erik Botheim (without a contract), Jørgen Strand Larsen (Groningen), Hugo Vetlesen (Bodø / Glimt), Emil Konradsen Ceide (Sassuolo) and Martin Njøten Palumbo (Juventus) in the squad.
Here you can see the brand new away kit for Norway
The Norwegian U21 boys got off to a dream start in the European Championship qualifiers. They only lost one of the first five games.
But with the loss in the key match against Austria in March, Norway’s European Championship opportunities got a wedge.
Austria passed Norway on the table, and is in the place that secures the playoffs for the European Championships 2023, but the Austrians have played in matches more than Norway. With four points in the last three matches, Norway will be secured second place in the group.
Norway lost 1-2 against Austria in March, but won 3-1 at home at Marienlyst. Thus, they have the Austrians on mutual settlement. It counts before the goal difference in the EC qualification.
It is approx. NOK 171 million in the Eurojackpot pot. Deadline for play is Friday at 19
Croatia suffered a surprising loss to Finland in March, but retained first place in the group. Norway is now one point behind Austria and four points behind Croatia before Friday’s match in Drammen.
Several declines in Norway’s squad
Smerud has suffered a number of setbacks. Neither striker Noah Holm from Rosenborg or midfield duo Markus Solbakken (Viking) and Elias K. Hagen (Bodø / Glimt) are in place in the U21 national team’s squad before the group final.
But Norway has brought in good replacements.
Among others, Juventus player Martin Njøten Palumbo has joined the Norwegian squad. Radværingen has scored a goal after only being on the field for 136 minutes for Norway’s U21 team. He could be a joker against the Croatians in Friday’s fateful battle.
Anderlecht player Kristian Malt Arnstad has also been promoted from the G19 national team and that Brann striker Aune Heggebø has joined as an extra cover in the squad.
It is approx. NOK 171 million in the Eurojackpot pot. Deadline for play is Friday at 19
The biggest star in the Croatian U21 team is Leipzig player Luka Sucic. According to the German website transfermarkt, he is worth 20 million euros.
In comparison, the entire Norwegian U21 squad is valued at 26.5 million euros, while the Croatian squad is valued at almost 70 million euros.
Croatia has scored in all three of its away matches in the European Championship qualifiers, while both teams have scored in five of the seven matches for Norway in the qualifiers.
Norway has only managed to keep a clean sheet in two games, both against Estonia, which is the bottom team in the group. Estonia has so far not scored a single goal in the qualifiers.
The statistics give us good arguments for betting on both teams scoring at Marienlyst, but the odds on such a game are only 1.50. It’s not very tempting.
Then it is more interesting to play on Norway victory.
Norway went on a narrow 2-3 loss against Croatia away in October. It is not impossible for Norway to beat this Croatian team. When the Norwegian A national team could beat Luka Modic, Mario Mandzukic, Ivan Perisic and Ivan Rakitic in 2015, the Norwegian U21 boys can beat Josip Stanisic, Josip Sutalo and Luka Sucic.
We believe that Norway will win against Croatia. You can bet on her at 2.45 in odds