Inside Norway

Both Italy and Norway are embarking on a new era. After the easy debut win against Netherlands, Antonio Conte’s side will face Norwegians in the Euro 2016 qualifying opener in a group also containing Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Croatia and Malta. With the second place good to make the expanded Euro 2016, the challenge for Conte would be not the qualification but install his tactical principles into his squad. Norwegian side is very different from Egil Olsen’s Norway that thrilled the country in the ‘90s. Henning Berg, Ole Gunnar Solksjaer, Steffan Iversen, Erik Bakke, Stin Inge Bjornebye, and Tore Andre Flo are no more here. But from a tactical viewpoint this is a different team. Forget about Olsen’s long ball, Charles Reep-style approach. The idea to move the ball into the box with three passes is no more the rule. Olsen felt so in love with Reep’s approach that brought on it. But things changed and Hogmo modified team’s tactics. Although he inherited a less technically gifted bunch of footballers, new manager Per-Mathias Hogmo tried to stamp his mark on tactics. He was hired to build a side more comfortable in possession. So, this new generation of Norwegian players is no more relying on counterattacking but on a more proactive, dictating the play, football style. Sure, this change is still a work in progress. By the way, waiting for the explosion of teenager sensation Martin Odegaard -- the 15-year-old attacking midfielder that already made his debut in a friendly against United Arab Emirates -- Hogmo has some talent at his disposal. Håvard Nordtveit and Omar Elabdellaoui are promising defenders while Vegard Forren was a high touted centre back forced to go back to Molde after a poor stint at Southampton. There are some issues at left-back spot where Per-Egil Flo made less of an impact on the first team so far. Tom Høgli is another option on the left side. Mats Møller Dæhli is the rough diamond in the midfield: he got good skills and showed it at Cardiff last season. Norwich ‘s midfielder Alexander Tettey is a talent and one of the most underrated Norwegian footballers  Forward Tarik Elyounoussi is one of the players expected to step up soon while other forward Joshua King is a former Manchester United Academy prospect that live up to his potential due to injuries. At the end, Norway is one of those so-so rebuilding teams that Italy should be expected to beat. But they have to don’t underestimate them. Under Conte, it would be hardly the case.