In appreciation of posters from ".no" sites and their threat to
qualify for WC '94 makes Norway a good candidate for the next in my series
of Youth squad information.

Begin quote.

Norway can thank its goalscorers, especially under the pressure of penalty
shootouts, for thier ticket to Australia '93. In its preliminary group for
the European Youth Championship, it was goal difference only that saw Norway
edge out close rivals Finland, after both teams finished on eight points 
from six matches. High scores against Austria (5-0) and the Netherlands (4-1)
were instrumental to that success. Then in the Euro finals, it was the penalty
takers who made all the difference in wins over Russia (3-1 after a 4-4 draw)
and England (8-7 after a 1-1 draw).

	Noway's appearance in this World Youth Championship for the FIFA/
Coca-Cola Cup confirms the spectacular improvement in Norwegian football over
the last couple of years. Norway's senior side has gained the reputation of
giant killers after accounting for world powers such as Italy and the
Netherlands and drawing away to England in the past six months. Now it's the 
youth team's turn in the international limelight and indications are that
the young vikings will enter the fray undaunted, confident in their ability
to tackle the best in the world.
	Coach Bjorn Hansen surprised more highly rated European teams in the
qualifiers with tight marking, defensive tactics and quick breakaways which
often caught the opposition wrongfooted.
	Goalkeeper Thomas Myhre, who plays for the Moss club, is the backbone
of an uncompromising defence held together in the middle by Thomas Ostvold
and Stian Tobiassen. Adding exoticism to this Norwegian team is fullback
Hai Ngoc Tran, who was born in Vietnam.
	The Norwegian midfield is workman-like rather than spectacularly
technical [I nominate that as Oxymoron of the month]. Tommy Svindal Larsen
and Lars Olssen are the key midfield players, the former defending and the
latter moving up to link up with the forwards. Though Norway scored freely
in the qualifiers, attack is not usually its forte. Espen Daland, who plays for
Start, a Norwegian club famous for developing young players, is usually the 
striker who gets the goals. Tall and aggressive, he may lack the finesse of
fellow forward Thomas Hafstad, but he more than makes up for that by requiring
at least one defender to look after him at all times. This opens up gaps
in the defence of Norways opponents, a tactic coach Hansen has exploited to
the hilt with great success.
	Norway, Fair Play award winners at the 1989 FIFA/Coca-Cola Cup in
Saudi Arabia, should win the hearts of the Australian public with its
committed style of football. Although they play hard, Norwegian soccer
teams have always been the fairest in the world, a most endearing trait
that has won them many fans all over the world.

Squad to be chosen from : (surnames in upper case)

Morten BRANDSDAL	Bjorn BRUNGOT		Espen DALAND
Lars ENGEBRATEN		Sigve FREDRIKSON	Thomas HAFSTAD
Tarje Nordstrand JACOBSON 			Rune Buer JOHANSEN
Jon KNUDSEN		Tommy Svindal LARSEN	Harald LODEMEL
Thomas MYHRE		Rune NORDENGEN		Lars OLSSEN
Thomas OSTVOLD		Borge Andre RANNESTAD	Petter RUDI
Odd Arild SKONHOFT	Brede SKORVE		Stian TOBIASSEN
Hai Ngoc TRAN

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