Friendly in Reykjavik, July 21, 1997 ==================================== Iceland - Norway 0-1 (0-0) Laugardalsvöllur Att: 7500 0-1 Jostein Flo (74) Referee: Richard O'Hanlon, Ireland. Yellow card: Eyjolfur Sverrisson, Sigurdur Jonsson, Hermann Hreidarsson, Iceland, Erik Mykland, Kjetil Rekdal, Øyvind Leonhardsen, Norway. Lineups: -------- Iceland (4-5-1): Kristjan Finnbogason (Olafur Gottskalksson from 59.) - Larus Orri Sigurdsson (Sigurdur Ørn Jonsson from 83.), Gudni Bergsson, Eyjolfur Sverrisson, Hermann Hreidarsson - Runar Kristinsson (Helgi Sigurdsson from 71.), Sigurdur Jonsson (Sverrir Sverrisson from 38.), Thordur Gudjonsson, Brynjar Bjorn Gunnarsson, Einar Thor Danielsson - Arnor Gudjohnsen. Norway (4-5-1): Frode Grodås - Gunnar Halle, Dan Eggen, Tore Pedersen, Stig Inge Bjørnebye - Petter Rudi (Jostein Flo from 46.), Erik Mykland, Kjetil Rekdal, Øyvind Leonhardsen, Frank Strandli - Tore André Flo (Egil Østenstad from 66.). Match report ------------ A very hard fought win by Norway. Usually they are the most physical side in a game, but in Iceland the Norwegian team found their equal. The home team went into every tackle as if their lives depended on it. Perhaps not unexpected when the neighbours from a cross the ocean are their opponents. But at times it got a bit ugly. The situation wasn't help by the fact that the game was lead by one of the worst referees I've ever seen. Not only was Mr. O'Hanlon unable to knock down on the worst Icelandic tackles, but waved play-on time after time, he was also responsible for some very odd decisions regarding freekicks. Luckily, his poor decisions were evenly spread to both teams, but it says something when coach Drillo afterwards stated that this was the only game he had participated in where all the 22 players performed better than the referee. Remembering that this game was hardly a classic, it really says it all. In the first half, Norway started the better, but faded very quickly and were unable to create a single decent chance. Iceland, on the other hand, wasted two great opportunities to take the lead. On both occations goal keeper Grodås saved Norway. After the break and the introduction of Jostein Flo as replacement for Rudi, Norway got a firmer grip on things. Leo should have scored when only the keeper to beat, but shot over. Then, 15 minutes from time, big brother Flo headed in a corner, and that was it. Iceland were never able to come back from that, although they scored an equalizer fived minutes from time. However, that goal was correctly disallowed for offside. Of the Norwegian players, goal keeper Grodås played well, even though he is still extremely bad at handling backpasses. In defence, nobody was outstanding, especially not the side backs, whose distribution was awful. Bjørnebye was also extremely bad at set pieces. Either the corners went too low, too long or too short. The only exception being the winning goal. Luckily, both Johnsen (in Asia with Man U), Berg (slightly injured) and Haaland (also slightly injured) will be back against Finland. In midfield, both Rudi, Mykland, Strandli and Rekdal underperformed, and none of them are sure starters in Helsinki. Leo had a decent game. At least he was the only one from midfield who managed to be at the end of the attacks and actually try to score. His finishing was poor, though. On top, Tore Andre Flo, was heavily marked by two, and sometimes three Icelandic defenders, who didn't treat him nicely. The effect was a very ineffectual strker. The presence of his brother, Jostein, probably decided the outcome of the game. His physical presence in the air was too much, even for the brave Icelandics. Either they fouled him, or he managed to flick on. Certainly, the "old" Flo will still play his part in the Norwegia side, especially in the games away against the weaker nations, Finland and Azerbaijan, when goals will be difficult to get.