Friendly in Oslo, October 8, 1997 ================================= Norge - Colombia 0-0 Ullevaal Att: 18 028 Referee: Karl-Erik Nilsson, Sweden. Yellow card: John Mario Ramirez (14), Nelson Hurtado (79), Hermann Gaviria (90), Colombia. Line-ups -------- Norway (4-5-1): Thomas Gill - Bjørn Tore Kvarme (Steinar Nilsen from 84.), Ronny Johnsen, Erik Hoftun, Bent Skammelsrud - Petter Rudi (Odd Inge Olsen from 46.), Erik Mykland (Ståle Solbakken from 74.), Kjetil Rekdal, Bjørn Viljugrein (Vidar Riseth from 60.), Stig Inge Bjørnebye (Frank Strandli from 84.) - Tore André Flo. Colombia (4-4-2): René Higuita - Wilson Perez, Everth Palacios, Ivan Cordoba, Jairo Ampudia - John Wilmer Perez (Nelson Hurtado from 62.), Hermann Gaviria, John Mario Ramirez (Leonardo Fabio Moreno from 66.), Mauricio Serna - Hamilton Richard, Ricardo Perez (Carlos Asprilla from 81.). Match report ------------ Nowadays friendlies between nations already qualified for international tournaments are nothing more than the name suggests - friendlies. This game was no exception. Colombia, with only three players left from their last WC qualifying game, obviously came to Oslo to practice defensive organization. Norway, on the other hand, without Berg, Solskjær, Grodås, Solbakken and Jostein Flo from the start, wanted to give four new players a chance to qualify for the WC squad. The result was a predictable 0-0 draw. If a team should have won it should definitely had been Norway, as Colombia had only one decent opportunity in the whole game. For Norway, Flo hit the post and sub Riseth scored but was correctly disallowed for offside. As for the new faces, nobody impressed immensely, which of course was not to be expected. Viljugrein ran his socks off, and managed the transition from Norwegian first division to international football remarkably well. His substitute, Riseth, was even better, and showed that his leading role in LASK Linz, Austria is no fluke. Of the two defenders, Hoftun was his solid self, but nothing spectacular, whereas Kvarme had no trouble defensively, but his poor distribution was disappointing. Of the regulars, Rekdal and Mykland were the better players. Flo showed in glimpses what he can do with a football. On the other hand, Bjørnebye once more demonstrated that he has lost quite some precision and that he really is no left midfield player. Instead he should concentrate on keeping his left back position, as Skammelsrud once more did a very good job in that poistion, and he is a very good alternative unless Bjørnebye picks up his play. As for Colombia, they had a quality defence, which gave very little away. Especially the two fullbacks gave Flo more trouble than he has had against any defence of late. Offensively, though, the South Americans were very disappointing, and looked throughout the match very satisfied with a 0-0 draw.