Overview
With Norway securing a place in the play-off round, coach Stale Solbakken and his team are now aiming for a bigger goal - qualifying directly for the 2026 World Cup.
They will achieve that if they have a better result than the Italian team in the 9th match. Otherwise, the decisive match in Milan this weekend will be decisive.
After a shocking 3-0 victory over Azzurri in June, Norway has won 18 points after 6 matches and maintained an impressive scoring form. Erling Haaland continues to be the leader with 12 goals in the campaign. With just 5 more goals, the Nordic team will set a record for scoring in the European qualifiers in the 21st century.
Last month's friendly draw with New Zealand ended Landslagen's streak of 9 consecutive wins in all competitions. In particular, they crushed Moldova 11-1 and crushed Israel 5-0.
Now, Norway is getting very close to ending a 27-year absence from the World Cup, since their last appearance in France in 1998. Despite the worst-case scenario - a defeat to Estonia - their fate is still within reach before the final match.
Norway currently has a goal difference of +26, far exceeding Italy's +10. However, with their current form and home advantage, it is difficult for Norway to lose points.
The last time the two teams met - in tallinn last summer - Haaland's second-half goal made the difference, despite Norway being overwhelming in terms of possession and shots.
This rematch at Ullevaal, Estonia is likely to face a similar scenario, as their qualifying campaign has almost ended in disappointment.
Eliminated from the race for a ticket to the 2026 World Cup, Estonia no longer has a chance to finish in the top 3 of Group I. And the next match will be their qualifying farewell.
After dropping 4 points against Moldova, coach Jurgen Henn and his team have lost all remaining matches. Including a 1-3 home defeat to Italy last month.
Currently 130th in the FIFA rankings, the Baltic team hopes to avoid finishing in the bottom position. However, facing a Norway side on the rise and eager to break their goalscoring record is certainly not an easy farewell for Estonia.
Personnel situation
Once again, Norway will not have the service of captain Martin Odegaard due to a knee injury that is still keeping him out.
The Arsenal midfielder will be present to cheer for the national team in Oslo and Milan, but his two other teammates, Sverre Nypan and Felix Horn Myhre, will definitely be absent.
In defense, Stale Solbakken was able to call up Genoa's Leo Ostigard, who missed the training session last month due to a broken rib.
Up front, Jorgen Strand Larsen often takes on the role of supporting key stars such as Haaland and Alexander Sorloth. Players such as Antonio Nusa, Oscar Bobb and Andreas Schjelderup are also strong candidates to join Norway's strong attack.
While Haaland only needs four more goals to equal Robert Lewandowski's UEFA record of 16 goals, Estonia has only seven goals in the process.
Rauno Sappinen and Mattias Kait each scored 2 goals, but Kait is currently unable to play due to injury. Gent defender Maksim Paskotsi has also withdrawn.
Therefore, captain Karol Mets, who has played 102 times for the national team, will need a new centre-back partner.
Expected lineup:
Norway: Nyland, Ryerson, Heggem, Ajer, Wolfe, Berg, Berge, Bobb, Sorloth, Nusa, Haaland.
Estonia: Hein, Schjonning-Larsen, Mets, Kuusk, Saliste, Soomets, Palumets, Yakovlev, Shein, Saarma, Sappinen.
The match between Norway and Estonia takes place at 0:00 am on November 14 (Vietnam time).
