ULLEVAAL STADIUM (VG) (Norway-Georgia 2–1) True, Jordan is not a tough opponent, maybe neither is Georgia. But I still dare to say: Antonio Nusa (18) is a future world star.

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We in the media find it easy to level up players before they are actually there – this has happened many times. But there’s something about Antonio Nusa’s type that makes me feel safe: He’s not starry-eyed, he’s calm, he knows that he still has a lot to learn.

Then there is the type of player.

There are many good, fast, strong and intelligent wingers.

But 18 years old? Not many.

Before the game, I called out the “assholes” on this team. Maybe we saw a “little bastard” in Antonio Nusa on Tuesday night at Ullevaal.

Against Georgia he terrorized (perhaps a dangerous word to use in today’s world) Georgia’s back end so badly in the first half that his back end was replaced. That continued against the back number two after the break – until he breathed a sigh of relief when Nusa was sent off after 70 minutes.

Then Georgia became bolder, and perhaps Nusa’s substitution was one of the reasons why they almost stole a point towards the end.

But then, within eight minutes of the first half, Antonio Nusa managed to ensure national team manager Ståle Solbakken’s pulse dropped somewhat, two outstanding involvements, which provided two assists for two goals, signed by Haaland and Ødegaard.

In the front line Ståle Solbakken has a player with an x-factor, a player who can suddenly cut in, create imbalances – and of course score goals.

Defensively, Norway is still struggling. Ståle Solbakken and Brede Hangeland had to do something about the defensive game – the chances went back three against Georgia, and the score would have actually been 2-2 in the final seconds. The opponents against Norway in this European Championship qualifier have eight behind from 17 goal opportunities.

Against Georgia, it was the X-factor boys who came to the rescue of the national team manager, who had been asked a lot of bad questions without a win on Tuesday night.

The troika of Martin Ødegaard, Antonio Nusa and Erling Braut Haaland found – no, now it will last, now we have to “offer” a little here, in a match that after half played first half looked slow, solid and boring.

Antonio Nusa has tried several times but this time it didn’t work. Suddenly he was free, took aim, sent the ball high towards Erling Braut Haaland.

You can almost imagine the rest yourself – he used his endurance, and it was one of the best in his class, jumping the highest and almost hitting the leader’s goal with his head.

Then 25 minutes have been played. And from then on, Norway completely took over the match.

Eight minutes after it was 1-0, Nusa began a show of deception and dribbling. That’s great, but it doesn’t help much if the final product doesn’t arrive – but it did. Nusa came out “45 degrees” as it is nicely called – and Martin Ødegaard’s foot aimed perfectly, making the score 2-0.

Ødegaard leads, drills and wins the ball, plays triangles and wants to show that Norway, yes, they can. And on the left, Nusa uses all the tricks in the book.

The last 25 minutes of the first half were good for Norway.

The rest of the game? Well. A weak first half 20, and a second half where Norway should have had things under control – but kept screwing it up again. It feels completely unnecessary. Georgia didn’t have a chance to score until midway through the 2nd half, but in extra time they got two goals, one into the net where the clumsy Stefan Strandberg was too alert, and then a save by Ørjan Nyland – which saved Norway and Norway. Honor Solbakken.

Two great scores, the great Martin Ødegaard and the sometimes excellent Antonio Nusa were the highlights of this Tuesday night.

But the performance as a whole is unconvincing. Only four chances were created, too weak against such an opponent. And defensively, Norway is still struggling. Stefan Strandberg blocked two shots at 0-0 as Norway chased them.

But it ended well, thanks to an offensive trio that means that Ståle Solbakken and Norway are still alive in theory for an EC spot next summer.

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