It would be a complete surprise if TV 2 didn’t reveal Ståle Solbakken’s team selection on Friday night.

Solbakken himself told his press conference what most suspect, that Leo Østigård, despite a lack of match practice, was convincing enough in training to be allowed to start. He is trying to build on last year’s successful collaboration with Stefan Strandberg in Norway’s central defence. Marcus Holmgren Pedersen and Birger Meling regained their places. Solbakken previously confirmed that Ørjan Nyland was his first choice in goal.

Patrick Berg retained the anchor role he had in last year’s November game. He will start a tournament game for Norway for the first time since October 2021, and he will do so in the roles of Sander Berge and Fredrik Aursnes who switched to playing in the national league last year. They were both sidelined through injury in November.

New national team role

Aursnes and Martin Ødegaard will be Norway’s inside runners against Spain, while Berge is pushed out on the right flank. Berge has played anchor or deep runner in the national team under Solbakken, but has experience on the wing from club team Sheffield United. Aursnes has shown at Benfica that he does well in a more offensive role than his previous six favored roles.

Alexander Sørloth started as expected at the summit in the absence of Erling Braut Haaland. It opened up the space on the right wing that Sørloth usually has. Mohamed Elyounoussi earned a place on the left flank and thus completed 50 international caps.

Hugo Vetlesen ended up in the stands as redundant in the squad. One can only have 12 reserves.

Shock

The surprise for the Spanish team was that Dani Olmo got a chance as one of the wingers. Most hope the place will go to Dani Ceballos. Alejandro Balde was preferred to José Gaya at left back, and thus Spain received a warning from Barcelona’s left flank Ståle Solbakken, where Gavi often withdrew onto the pitch and created space for Balde’s attacks.

Olmo is one of four in the starting eleven who also started Spain’s final game in last year’s World Cup play-offs.

Here are the teams:

Norway (4-5-1):

1 Ørjan Nyland – 22 Marcus Holmgren Pedersen, 4 Stefan Strandberg, 15 Leo Østigård, 5 Birger Meling – 8 Sander Berge, 10 Martin Ødegaard (captain), 6 Patrick Berg, 16 Fredrik Aursnes, 11 Mohamed Elyounoussi – 19 Alexander Sørloth.

Subs: 12 Jacob Karlstrøm, 13 Egil Selvik – 2 Morten Thorsby, 3 Stian Gregersen, 7 Ola Brynhildsen, 9 Ola Solbakken, 14 Julian Ryerson, 17 Fredrik Bjørkan, 18 Kristian Thorstvedt, 20 Mats Møller Dæhli, 21 Andreas Hanche-Olsen, 22 Jørgen Strand Larsen. In the stands: Hugo Vetlesen.

Spain (4-2-3-1):

1 Kepa Arrizabalaga – 20 Dani Carvajal, 4 Nacho, 5 Aymeric Laporte, 3 Alejandro Balde – 16 Rodri, 15 Mikel Merino – 21 Dani Olmo, 17 Iago Aspas, 9 Gavi – 7 Álvaro Morata (captain).

Subs: 13 Robert Sánchez, 23 David Raya – 2 Pedro Porro, 6 Iñigo Martínez, 8 Fabián Ruiz, 10 Dani Ceballos, 11 Yeremy Pino, 12 Joselu, 14 José Gayaà, 18 Mikel Oyarzabal, 19 Nico Williams, 22 Martin Zubimendi.

Referee: Benoît Bastien, France.