Whizz-kids could earn Norway final fling, says Ajer
BY nature, Kristoffer Ajer can only do quiet confidence. The success of his fellow Norwegians around Europe are, however, testing the Celtic defender’s attempts at calm demeanour when discussing his chances of playing in Euro 2020 next summer.
Norway will host Scotland for a place at the finals if both home nations advance through play-off semi-finals against Serbia and Israel next month.
Ajer’s men, with veteran major tournament coach Lars Lagerback at the helm, are undefeated at home in 15 games stretching back to September 2016 and the Ullevaal
Stadium is already sold out for the Serbia test.
Little wonder, then, that the Norwegian fans are salivating at the prospect of watching their team on the brink of a first European Championship appearance since 2000.
They boast the world’s most exciting teenage striker, Erling Haaland, whose blistering early form for new club Borussia Dortmund has spawned seven goals in 147 minutes of action. He is not a bad back-up for Josh King, the Bournemouth striker who started all six qualifiers in the first half of the season.
Long-time wonder kid Martin Odegaard is in superb form for Real Sociedad on loan from Real Madrid and midfielder Sander Berge broke Sheffield United’s transfer record at £22million after signing from Genk on Thursday
Ajer admits Norway possesses a ‘really exciting group’ and it is all underpinned by a typically well-drilled Lagerback defence, of which the 21-year-old Celtic centre-half is a key player.
‘What Haaland has done for Salzburg and now Borussia Dortmund is incredible,’ said Ajer. ‘Obviously, as a Norwegian, you want to see your players do well. I think he will be extremely good for the national team as well.
‘He is two years younger than me, so we didn’t come through on the same national teams but we were together with the senior squad on the last international break.
‘Sadly, he got an injury and didn’t play that time. Hopefully, though, he will in the future. We have so many talented younger players coming in and a few boys who have experience.
‘The system we have has worked extremely well. Everybody knows their jobs.
‘The way we’ve been performing has been a real boost for Norwegian football over the last two years.
‘We haven’t lost at home in that time and we were close to automatically qualifying. It is an exciting time.
‘It’s a long time since we made a finals and everyone is buzzing for it. The semi-final is a sell-out already and that says a lot about the enthusiasm our fans have.’
The return to form of Leigh Griffiths has increased the chances of Ajer facing his Celtic team-mate in Oslo.
Griffiths has scored three goals in four games since being restored to Neil Lennon’s starting line-up and the 29-year-old has spoken of targeting the Israel game for his Scotland comeback.
Lennon has placed Griffiths up front with Odsonne Edouard lately in a revamped Celtic system, which has featured Ajer in a back three.
So far so good, declared the
Norwegian, who expressed delight at watching Griffiths hint that he could soon revert to his prolific scoring form of old.
‘It’s great to get Leigh back in the team,’ added Ajer. ‘He looked sharp in Dubai. He has come back scoring goals and has been fantastic since the break.
‘You saw his qualities against St Johnstone in midweek. It wasn’t just his goal, it was his build-up play, too.
‘He’s linking well as a pair with Odsonne, who has been brilliant since the start of the season.
‘Having a partner there to help out is great for the whole team.’