Norway v Serbia
1
Norwegian thunder and lightning Serbia’s centre-backs will have their hands full with Norway’s tandem of devastating centre-forwards: Erling Haaland and Alexander Sorloth. Last season, the pair netted 77 club goals, Haaland registering 44 for Salzburg and Dortmund, while Sorloth managed 33 in Turkey for Trabzonspor. Starting together for the first time last month, they scored two each in a 5-1 demolition of Northern Ireland. Serbia, you have been warned.
2 The Serb creators
While Norway’s front two is packed with strength and power, Serbia coach Ljubisa Tumbakovic has at his disposal some technically exceptional footballers. Ajax’s outstanding Dusan Tadic, Lazio superstar Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, Eintracht Frankfurt dribbler Filip Kostic and winger Adem Ljajic. The creative talent in the country can rival all but the very best teams in Europe.
3 Norway’s keeping conundrum
First-choice Norway keeper Rune Jarstein, has spent the last five seasons as a starter with Hertha Berlin, but now finds himself in the shadows at the
Olympiastadion, with the newly-arrived former Freiburg custodian Alexander Schwolow. Yet, with Aston Villa’s Orjan Nyland, who made some high-profile errors at the end of last season also likely to be short of match practice, coach Lars Lagerback has little choice but to stick with Jarstein.
4 Different strokes
The contrast in playing styles in this tie should make for fascinating viewing. Norway’s back-to-basics 4-4-2, with the emphasis on athleticism, direct duels, long balls and set-pieces. Serbia relying more on fluidity and finesse, looking to make hay with lots of positional rotation and frequent switching of play. The Norwegians must shut down the Serb passing lanes and prevent them passing the ball out from the back.
5 Can Mitrovic keep up his scoring spree?
Fulham spearhead Aleksandar Mitrovic proved an irresistible force in qualifying Group B, scoring ten goals in nine games. He is now within striking distance of becoming Serbia’s most prolific marksman ever. The current record is 38, held by Stjepan Bobek, with Mitrovic just three behind on 35. A great natural finisher, his temperament and attitude can occasionally let him down.