National coach Stale Solbakken has announced his selection for the potentially crucial World Cup qualifier against the Dutch national team on November 16 in De Kuip. The debutant Thomas Lehne Olsen is the most striking name in the selection. The thirty-year-old striker of Lilleström has been scoring continuously in the Norwegian Eliteserien this season and he has to make up for the absence of the injured Erling Braut Haaland. AZ midfielder Fredrik Midstjö and Feyenoord players Marcus Pedersen and Fredrik Aursnes are also part of the selection for the coming international match, in which a duel with Latvia is also on the program.
Haaland injured his hip two weeks ago in Borussia Dortmund’s 4-0 Champions League match against Ajax in the Johan Cruijff ArenA. As a result, the Norwegian goalscorer misses the important World Cup qualifiers against Latvia (home, November 13) and the Netherlands (away, November 16). During the first meeting with the Dutch, Haaland was accurate during a 1-1 draw. Unlike the striker, Solbakken can again call on Joshua King (Watford) and Alexander Sørloth (Real Sociedad), who have recovered from injuries.
Lehne Olsen is the striking debutant in the selection of Norway. The thirty-year-old striker played fourteen youth international matches a decade ago, but was never called up for the A-team. Lehne Olsen impresses this season in the Norwegian Eliteserien. In Lilleström’s shirt, he scored 21 times in 24 games. “Thomas Lehne Olsen has performed well lately,” Solbakken explained his choice. “He has shown that he is dangerous behind the last line when the opponent is high and has a nose for goals.”
Lehne Olsen is not the only debutant in the selection of Norway. The 23-year-old right winger Ola Solbakken of Bodö/Glimt – by the way not related to the national coach – also has a chance to play his first international match against Latvia on November 13. “We are not very broad in the fast wing tips”, the national coach indicated. Ola is a dynamic player who has developed well.” In addition to the two debutants, Martin Ödegaard, former Heerenveen midfielder Morten Thorsby, AZ player Fredrik Midtsjø and the Feyenoord duo Pedersen and Aursnes are again part of the Norwegian selection.
The full roster of Norway: Hansen (Rosenborg), Nyland (Bournemouth), Grytebust (Vejle), Gregersen (Girondins de Bordeaux), Gabrielsen (FC Copenhagen), Hanche-Olsen (AA Gent), Standberg (Salernitana), Lode (Bodö/Glimt), Meling ( Stade Rennes), Björkan (Bodö/Glimt), Pedersen (Feyenoord), Ryerson (Union Berlin), Thorsby (Sampdoria), Normann (Rostov), Aursnes (Feyenoord), Midstjö (AZ), Ödegaard (Arsenal), Thorstvedt (KRC Genk), Moller Daehli (FC Nürnberg), King (Watford), Berisha (Viking), Sörloth (Real Sociedad), Lehne Olsen (Lilleström), Solbakken (Bodö/Glimt), Hauge (Eintracht Frankfurt) and Elyanoussi (Southampton).