Sent Norway to the European Championship play-offs – VG
DRAMMEN (VG) (Norway – Azerbaijan 2-1) The U21 national team struggled for a long time against second-placed Azerbaijan. But in the end, clubless Erik Botheim appeared. The captain sent Norway to the European Championships for the first time in 10 years.
– It is a great achievement that we managed this, says Erik Botheim to VG.
– It’s completely damn sick. I am so proud of this team, Norway’s second goal scorer, Jørgen Strand Larsen, follows up.
– A suffering from a match, says a very relieved coach Leif Gunnar Smerud.
The other nations that are ready, in addition to the host nations Romania and Georgia, are European football giants: Italy, Belgium, Spain, Germany, Portugal, England, the Netherlands and France.
Botheim beat Azerbaijan captain Rauf Hüseynli in the air 13 minutes before the end in Drammen. The 22-year-old heading went into the far corner for tremendous relief. Norway in the first U21 European Championship since it won bronze in Israel a year ago.
– I had a feeling that I had to put it if I got a chance. A nice headline, he says.
Leif Gunnar Smerud has coached the U national team since 2014 and finally managed to lead Norway to a championship. Eight wins and two losses sent Norway to the playoffs.
– Absolutely fantastic, he says.
– It is incredibly delicious, says football president Lise Klaveness to VG.
Norway had delivered a weak and toothless first half before top scorer Jørgen Strand Larsen finally put in 1-0, but the cold shower came with an equalizer after a juicy Norwegian defense mistake.
But Botheim was in place when substitute Håkon Evjen was precise with the free kick foot.
The striker – who grew up just a couple of kicks away from Kringsjå in western Oslo – has been through a difficult time since Russia went to war and the contract with Krasnodar was canceled.
He saved a team that relied on victory to overtake Croatia in the group’s very last match.
– He’s invincible. A leader and an army commander, Klaveness believes.
But for a long time, the battle of fate was tough as glue for Erling Braut Haaland’s peers who have previously been in two youth championships. Smerud does not think the Manchester City star will play a U21 match next summer.
– I doubt it. But if he wants to, he must be allowed to join, says Smerud.
Up in the stands sat several of the A national team’s heroes from the victory over Sweden.
– I miss commitment. Norway must show that they want to win the championship, said the A national team’s Leo Skiri Østigård to VG during the break.
– It should be a much better second half, Østigård announced and asked the team to “step up”.
The first half started with Azerbaijan having the ball the most. Norway was passive and characterized by the seriousness of the moment.
Eventually it loosened up a bit. But neither Tobias Christensen, Sebastian Sebulonsen, Jørgen Strand Larsen or Emil Konradsen Ceïde managed to turn the chances into goals.
Anderlecht player Kristian Arnstad disappeared after failing to roll before the break. Håkon Evjen came in. The AZ Alkmaar player did not immediately manage to breathe new life into Norway’s playoff dream.
Instead, it was Azerbaijan who came to a great chance at Rustam Akmedzade.
Then Jørgen Strand Larsen finally hit after a good attack where the ball went from Konradsen Ceide to the always offensive Sebulonsen. He served the top scorer perfectly inside the field.
Osame Sahraoui got a dream chance right afterwards. But the shot from the Vålerenga player struck on the outside of the post.
Norway led 1-0 and was on its way to the championships in Romania and Georgia.
But then came an ugly mistake by midfielder Jesper Daland. The start player missed the ball after a cross pass from Markus Solbakken, who had come in for Konradsen Ceide to stabilize Norway.
Instead, Ildar Alekperov got a free path to the Norwegian goal. The Azerbaijani placed the ball behind Kristoffer Klaesson to 1-1.
Strand Larsen came to a new great chance after another serving from Sebastian Sebulonsen. Men the ball smacked outside. Erik Botheim did not get the ball in goal either when he got his first chance 20 minutes before the end.
It started to get critical.
But then Erik Botheim appeared.
He could also have given Norway 3-1. But it stopped striker Strand Larsen with his head.
– He deserved two when I stood in the way. I have to take it on my cloak, says the man with seven goals for Norway in the European Championship qualifiers