– I felt I get a “touch” through him, and then I hit his knee. I didn’t have a chance to stay on my feet. I felt it was a clear punishment, Bjørkan told NRK.

The stadium continued to shout for the penalty area, but the referee was unimpressed, and gave him a yellow card for diving.

– I can’t understand other than that there will be punishment. It’s a petty scandal, you ask me, comments NRK expert Carl-Erik Torp.

After studying replays, Torp stated that “he doesn’t understand” how Norway didn’t get a penalty kick.

– What can you say? When viewed from the picture is quite clear. Where did the border go? It’s so incoherent, so can’t say anything other than that it’s disappointing, said Bjørkan, at the same time as he watched the punishment repeated.

For the referee waved the game after VAR checked the situation, and Norway’s screams were not heard.

– It’s frustrating and concludes the night. That’s not going to happen, Birger Meling said after the game.

– Heavy to look at

And that frustration was palpable after the game. Norway’s bucket of chances – and zero goals – finish against Slovenia at home.

Although Norway improved tremendously after the break, it wasn’t for Erling Braut Haaland, Martin degaard or anyone else in the Norwegian national team uniform.

– It’s hard to see. We were bad at first. 11 versus 11 in other games we were very good. Enough to score one, two or three goals. But it was one of those days where the ball didn’t go in the net, Stefan Strandberg told NRK after the game.

Because it does not depend on the number or size of the odds.

– We have more than enough opportunities to take it. We played a slightly bad first half, so our second half was good from start to finish. “Frustrating that we didn’t get the goals we needed,” Birger Meling told NRK.

11 to 10

The penalty situation in the 86th minute, however, was far from Norway’s only chance of getting the winning goal against Slovenia. That’s one hero Another Norwegian who dropped out at Ullevaal in the second half.

The hosts started a rushed 45-minute game against Slovenia in the second half, but time and time again star goalkeeper Jan Oblak got in the way.

Norway had a big advantage after the break, and it got even bigger when Miha Blazic saw himself forced to trap Erling Braut Haaland on his way to goal.

The Slovenian robbed the striker of a clear goal opportunity, and thus it was a red card and a marching order:

Martin degaard, who created several chances in the second half, then let it out of the reach of Jan Oblak – on the crossbar.

– “The second half was great, and the only thing missing was scoring goals,” said degaard after the game.

Star guard on the road

National team manager Ståle Solbakken was clearly not satisfied with the first 45 minutes, and the heroics responded by creating chance after chance for Slovenian star goalkeeper Oblak.

Oblak stands in the way for the most part.

The fun had already begun when Haaland was played alone by degaard, but the last chance was thwarted by a tiger jump when he prevented the striker from running around him.

Both Alexander Sørloth and Kristian Thorstvedt came on after team changes in search of the winning goal, and the former had good chances in the 62nd minute. However, a header from five meters went straight to Oblak.

Startup problem

Hopes for Ullevaal were high after two solid away wins, but Slovenia were quick to show that they would not be easy to beat.

The visitors opened up best, keeping the ball and denying the Norwegian space. Erling Braut Haaland was wrapped up in threes and fours as Norway tried to build on the attack.

The committed Solbakken told the players to be patient, but that was just almost When is it can be dangerous in the first half.

The final pass was too imprecise, and when Ullevaal managed to cheer for a goal just before half-time, Joshua King was inches away from the wrong side – and the goal was ruled out for offside.

Minutes earlier, Slovenia had a great chance to take the lead. A post passed through rjan Håskjold Nyland to Zan Celar, who hit the post before the ball returned to Nyland again.

– It’s really remarkable that Norway doesn’t end there, comments NRK expert Carl-Erik Torp.

Solbakken responded by sending on Alexander Sørloth and Kristian Thorstvedt for Joshua King and Fredrik Aursnes respectively into the second round.

And it was a completely different spin from the home side.

Swedish Problem

At the same time as Norway clash with Slovenia, problems pile up for Sweden at home to Serbia.

First, Mattias Svanberg and Kristoffer Olsson received yellow cards, meaning they lost the game against Norway at Ullevaal on Sunday. Moreover, defensive problems worsened when Joakim Nilsson was sidelined through injury.

Just minutes later, Serbia took the lead through Luka Jovic, and Serbia finally won 1-0.

That’s why fighting is important

The National League is the first step towards a possible European Championship final in 2024.

Should Norway win their group, Ståle Solbakken’s men are guaranteed an extra chance in the playoffs if they do not qualify through the regular European Championship qualifiers in 2023.

Not only that: Good results can provide better seeding and thus easier European Championship qualification when the groups are drawn in October.

Norway’s next and final game of the collection will be played on Sunday at 18.00. Then Sweden came to Ullevaal to make amends for a 2-1 loss in Stockholm.

The National League ended with two matches at the end of September against Slovenia (away) and Serbia (home).