(Slovenia – Finland 3-0) RB Leipzig star Benjamin Sesko (20) and Slovenia crushed Finland and further minimized Norway’s playoff chances.

In the EC qualifying match against Finland, Slovenia took full control from the start and led Group H after two goals from the 20-year-old striker and one from Erik Janza.

This is bad news with regards to Norway’s chances for the EC playoffs, as Finland is currently outside of direct qualification for the championship.

– This means the playoff odds drop drastically. Now Norway is increasingly relying on ifs and buts to resolve the issue, said VGTV commentator and League of Nations expert Vegard Aulstad.

In theory, Norway still has a chance of qualifying directly for the Group A championship, but will then have to beat Spain on Sunday and group leaders Scotland in November and have help from Georgia, who will meet Scotland on home soil.

Norway’s road to the playoffs is undoubtedly complicated. Get a better overview on the VG calculator “European Commission Opportunities” and in this video:

Another route to the EC is the playoffs via the Nations League. So Norway relies on:

• 1) At least 16 out of 22 the top-ranked team in the Nations League qualifies directly through the regular EC qualifiers. Germany has fulfilled the requirements as a host country.

Or that:

• 2) At least 4 of 7 lthe team that beats Norway at level B in the Nations League rankings immediately qualifies.

Finland is among the teams that are ahead of Norway in the rankings, but are currently outside the direct qualification group H. Finland is then in a better position than Norway in terms of getting playoff opportunities.

Two-goal scorer Benjamin Sesko began his senior career at Erling Braut Haaland’s former club, RB Salzburg, before announcing a transfer to the Bundesliga and Leipzig in 2022. He has previously have been compared with world star Norway.

Slovenia leads Group H three points behind Denmark and four points behind Finland and Kazakhstan. Denmark and Kazakhstan meet in Copenhagen at 20:45 on Saturday.

If Denmark beat Kazakhstan, they will get four points to qualify directly for Finland, who are therefore ahead of Norway in the Nations League rankings.