Norway In Quite Good Game-Shocker, But Is It Enough?

Scotland 0 - 0 Norway

All the post-match talk was obviously of Chris Iwelumo's mind-boggling miss, but it's worth noting that it was also a very encouraging performance from Hareide's men. 

Iwelumo: Epic fail

Martin Andresen's absence predictably proved a blessing in disguise as the cool head and cultured left foot of Fredrik Winsnes was instrumental in what was one of the most coherent midfield-performances we've seen from Norway in years, John Carew made messrs Caldwell and Weir look silly throughout the game, debutant Jon Knudsen did what he needed to do and the back four looked surprisingly sturdy. Heck, even Morten Gamst Pedersen made a positive impact when he came on (though the less said about Daniel Braaten the better, as usual).

Iwelumo's howler aside, Norway created the better chances and could well have gotten away with the a win. Certainly you'd have put good money on Steffen Iversen scoring his late chance, but there you go, on another day perhaps. 

Unfortunately for Norway-manager Åge Hareide that other day will have to be this Wednesday, against an altogether more daunting opponent. There is a subtle difference between playing against Darren Fletcher, James Morrison and James McFadden and playing against Rafael Van Der Vaart, Wesley Sneijder and Klaas-Jan Huntelaar. 

And the harsh reality for Hareide is that anything less than a win against Holland will all but end Norway's hopes of qualifying, in which case there will be little or no reason to retain the services of a manager who has already announced that this qualifying-campaign will be his last.