EC qualifier in Prague, September 6, 1995 ========================================= Czech Republic - Norway 2-0 (1-0) Sparta Praha stadium Att: 19 522 1-0 Tomas Skuhravy (pen. 6) 2-0 Radek Drulak (87) Referee: K Röthlisberger, Switzerland. Yellow card: Latal (32), Czech Republic, Løken (3), Solbakken (31), Jakobsen (55), J Flo (71), Norway. Line-ups -------- Norway (4-5-1): E Thorstvedt - K P Løken, E Johnsen, R Johnsen, H Berg - J Flo, L Bohinen (K Rekdal from 75.), S Solbakken, Ø Leonhardsen, J I Jakobsen - J Å Fjørtoft (H Brattbakk from 70.). Tsjekkia (4-4-2): P Kouba - M Kadlec - R Latal, J Suchoparek, T Repka - V Nemecek, J Nemec, M Frydek (K Poborsky from 71.), P Nedved - P Kuka (R Drulak from 18.), T Skuhravy (V Lokvenc from 81.). Table ----- Norway 9 6 2 1 17 - 4 20 ----------------------------------------------- Czech Republic 8 4 3 1 16 - 6 15 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Netherlands 8 4 2 2 16 - 5 14 Luxembourg 8 3 0 5 3 - 18 9 Belarus 7 2 1 4 6 - 11 7 Malta 8 0 2 6 2 - 16 2 95.10.07: Belarus - Czech Republic 95.10.11: Luxembourg - Belarus 95.10.11: Malta - Netherlands 95.11.12: Malta - Belarus 95.11.15: Czech Republic - Luxembourg 95.11.15: Netherlands - Norway Match report ------------ After yesterday's results it seems like it's going to go down to the last game in Rotterdam to decide whether Norway or Netherlands finish second (unless of course Belarus give them both a hand). A lot of people's prediction about Norway being doomed with 0-1 down was proved correct, but I have to say they were a bit unlucky yesterday as well. It seems like the luck that brought us to WC94 has deserted Norway all the way. Because after the unlucky opening penalty after 6 mins, it was Norway who mainly were in command and played much better than in any away gave I've seen tham play at this level before. Forget Rotterdam or Wembley, this was much better. However, Norway do have a problem scoring goals, and creating good chances, although we had much more of the posession than I expected. This was of course because the Czechs got the lead, but the home side were actually booed off at half time. In the second half, Norway pressed even more forward, leaving some unavoidable gaps in defense. And when the break through didn't come, the second goal was unevitable on a counter attack. Over the two games I would claim that Norway are not any worse than the Czech Republic, but instead of a win at home and draw away which we probably would have gotten had this been in the WC qualification, we are left with only one point. So small are the margins. Looking at the remaining matches, the good news is that it's still all in Norway's hands. A win in Rotterdam and we're through as winners :-) However, I can't see us doing that, despite the erratic Dutch team at the moment. Then, we'll have to go for the draw, which is a better opportunity. If the Dutch can struggle against the Czechs and Belarus at home, who says Norway can't get a 0-0 draw :-) We can't be having such a nightmare opening once more. Another possibility is to hope Belarus take a point (or three :-)) away from the Czechs. Judging by the play last night, I think that is a distinct possibility, because despite the win, the Czechs were not very convincing, although they had home field advantage. My prediction is that Norway will go to the play-off (i.e. finish second), no matter what happens in Minsk. Either we draw the Dutch after a heroic performance, if the Czechs have already beaten Belarus, or we lose in Rotterdam, if the Czechs have dropped a point already. I can't see us losing two games in a row, when both games are equally important. And if we do, we really don't deserve to be in EC96. (I can see us losing in Rotterdam, if we are certain of finishing at least second, though). There are nervous weeks and months to come...