The reason for this must be tactical reasons, said NRK. Graham Hansen should have received the message two days ago.
At the same time, the final lineup has yet to be submitted. Changes can happen at the last minute.
– I really got goosebumps. This is big news, said NRK expert Alexander Schau at studio WC.
Caroline Graham Hansen is one of the biggest stars in Norway. He plays every day at Barcelona.
Photo: Lise Åserud/NTB
– Bold choice
He believes the most difficult player to play against for Switzerland because of that he was off the pitch from the start.
– Then what do we do, asked Schau in the WC studio.
He described it as a “bold” choice.
– If it works, it’s cake. If that doesn’t work, there’s a torch and a pitchfork, says Schau.
After NRK published this case also wrote Television 2 that they have the same information about Graham Hansen.
TV 2 also knows that Ingrid Syrstad Engen is also not part of the starting line-up. The 25-year-old was a team-mate of Graham Hansen at Barcelona, who won the Champions League this season.
According to TV 2’s information, Syrstad Engen is also out of line.
Photo: Lise Åserud/NTB
Trained with the team
Caroline Graham Hansen trained with the Norwegian WC team in Hamilton on Monday.
He has been isolated in an Auckland hotel since Saturday after complaining of a sore throat. He did not take part in the team’s first training session since the opening match at the World Cup, which ended in a disappointing 0-1 loss to host nation New Zealand.
– He’s not affected at all. Caro is ready, everyone we have is available, national team manager Hege Riise told the press on Monday.
Graham Hansen was distraught after the game against New Zealand. Norway lost 0–1.
Photo: Abbie Parr/AP
Carl-Erik Torp, NRK expert commentator, believes the Graham Hansen wreck would be sensational.
– “That one of the world’s biggest stars isn’t going to play in such an important game, I don’t think it will,” said Torp.
– What are the tactical reasons to dump one of the world’s best players?
– That’s definitely a defensive quality that Graham Hansen might not have, in such an important collective for Norway. It would be surprising if they chose to throw it away, said Torp.
He said that the wreck seemed incomprehensible to all outsiders.
NRK Specialist Carl-Erik Torp.
Photo: Julia Marie Naglestad / NRK
He emphasized that previously there had been talk that they would utilize the power of big stars.
– They haven’t set it up. They failed to do so in the first match against New Zealand. And now it looks like they ditched “Caro” for game number two. This suggests they haven’t been able to figure out the role, Torp said.
Must avoid losses
Graham Hansen is a key player for Barcelona and the Norwegian national team.
With the loss to Switzerland, Norway may be missing any chance of advancing even before the final round of the group stage, something that has never happened before to a senior Norwegian national team in the play-offs of a World Cup, European Championship or Olympics.
The fact that Graham Hansen tends to throw away also comes as a surprise to many.
– It’s clear that this is something you wouldn’t imagine at all, said NRK expert Ingrid Byrøygard Kvernvolden at studio WC before adding:
– Then there’s the overall assessment of what Hege thinks is the best he can get from the team.
The Norway-Switzerland game kicks off at 10am on Tuesday morning. The match was broadcast on Viaplay and the NRK Sport radio channel.
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