After missing out the 3 points at home in the 89th minute against Cyprus, Portugal is on another journey in Norway where they will try to finally record their first win in Group H.
Although Portugal has a brilliant attack, their are lacking badly on defense. I mean, getting 4 goals at home, from a team like Cyprus gotta ring a bell and point out this huge problem for them.
Norway on the other hand had a little bit a trouble, when visiting the outsider Iceland. Although the game didn’t start in the best way for them, losing with 0:1 in half time, but then turning the game around 1:2.
Former Norway striker Ole Gunnar Solskjær is backing coach Egil Olsen to produce results in qualifying Group H as the Scandinavian side prepare for a “massive test” against Portugal.
Both teams have met back in 2003, again in Norway, where Portugal won with 1:0, but since it was 7 years ago, that means nothing for most of the players on the current team. Norway was able to win against France in a friendly game at home with 2:1, and against South Africa with 1:0 and away against Slovakia and Switzerland. The only loss they recorded was at home against Ukraine with 0:1.
So as you see the team has got potential, and might be the surprise tonight especially after what we saw from Portugal against Cyprus.
What to expect from this game?
Obviously Portugal is pointed for a favorite in this game, but I am going to point out Steven Gerrard’s words about international games, that all away games are hard. He was speaking in general and not just for the English team, and I do agree that most of the surprises we have seen are in away games, where “the favorite” visits one of their opponents.
I expect Norway to go out calmed from the their first victory against Iceland, and Portugal to be a bit nervous because of the draw game at home. Since that victory against North Korea with 7:0 the has not recorded a single win afterwards.
The Betting Verdict?
Both Teams to Score @ 2.02 (Register at Betfair.com – 25£ Sign up Bonus): Looking back in the most recent games of both teams, both of them had problems on defense. Since it has been only 3 days since them, I am guessing that the problems will reoccur tonight and we would see each team score at least once.
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