Qualifier 1: Norway 1-2 Scotland
14.09.1988, Ullevaal Stadion (Oslo)
Goal: Fjørtoft
Line-up (4-4-2): Thorstvedt – Henriksen, Johnsen, Bratseth, Giske (c) – Løken, Brandhaug, Sundby (Berg 4) (Jakobsen 85), Osvold – Sørloth, Fjørtoft
Despite losing influental midfield man Sundby to a horrific early injury, Norway are in the ascendancy early, and they cause their visitors some trouble through Løken along the right. However, they are rocked by a 15 minute goal for the visitors, and despite still playing some neat stuff in the first half, they can’t quite get going again like they’d started. Norway do manage to find an equalizer following a set-piece, from where they would often look threatening, but in the second half they never quite got out of the Scottish grip on the game. When the visitors scored their second of the evening, an equalizer rarely looked to be on the cards.

Qualifier 2: France 1-0 Norway
28.09.1988, Parc des Princes (Paris)
Line-up (5-3-2): Thorstvedt – Henriksen (Halle 77), Johnsen, Bratseth, Kojedal, Giske (c) – Berg, Brandhaug, Osvold (Gulbrandsen 81) – Sørloth, Jakobsen
Norway fall to their second straight qualification defeat as they try to defend their way to a point. They concede possession from the offset, but their strong central defensive unit do not allow the French much space. In the second half, Norway need Thorstvedt to keep them in the game on a few occasions, even if they themselves come desperately close to breaking the deadlock when Jakobsen’s cross from the right finds Osvold’s head in the centre ten minutes into the second half: It takes a reflex stop from Bats to keep it out. Ultimately, Norway are done when captain Giske, sporting a late thigh injury, fells Bravo in the area for Papin to strike home a penalty.

Friendly: Italy 2-1 Norway
19.10.1988
Goal: Brandhaug (pen.)
Line-up (5-3-2): Thorstvedt – Løken, Herlovsen, Bratseth, Kojedal, Halle – Gulbrandsen, Brandhaug (c), Osvold – Sørloth (Jakobsen 64), Agdestein (Rekdal 79)
Norway hold little fear for their more illustrious hosts, but find themselves two goals down following a penalty and a free-kick. They get a first half goal back with a penalty of their own, but fail to put the Italians to the sword after the break. Bratseth was behind both free-kicks which led to the hosts’ goals, and Norway posed little threat in open play. However, attacking set-pieces meant Italy were never completely confident.

Qualifier 3: Cyprus 0-3 Norway
02.11.1988, Tsíreio Stádio (Limassol)
Goals: Sørloth 2, Osvold
Line-up (5-3-2): Thorstvedt – Løken, Herlovsen, Bratseth, Kojedal, Halle – Gulbrandsen, Brandhaug (c), Osvold – Sørloth, Agdestein
Sadly, there is no photo evidence available from this game, and so we only have been able to collect sparse information about proceedings. However, a newspaper report from a Norwegian regional newspaper, kindly offered to us by @RetroSportNorge, appears to tell a tale of some quite intense pressure from the hosts the first half hour. Cyprus would then turn frustrated as their efforts failed to yield any goals, and in the second half Sørloth twice found the net to set the Norwegians up for their first win of the qualification. Midfielder Osvold added a late third.

Friendly: Czechoslovakia 3-2 Norway
04.11.1988
Goals: Sørloth, Agdestein
Line-up: By Rise (Thorstvedt 15) – Løken, Pedersen, Ahlsen, Salte, Halle – Gulbrandsen (Mordt 48), Brandhaug (c), Rekdal (Jakobsen 70) – Sørloth, Agdestein
It was an experimental line-up for the Norwegians two days after their qualification win in Cyprus. Stadheim gave debuts to both Tor Pedersen (Tromsø) and Leif Rune Salte (Bryne), both centre-backs, and so we have every reason to believe that this was indeed another game in 5-3-2. Goalkeeper By Rise was knocked out in a challenge with Griga for the first goal and had to be replaced. There were also rare starting opportunities for midfielders Rekdal (19) and Gulbrandsen, as well as striker Agdestein, who scored the only goal of the second half when he capitalized on a mistake by Chovanec.

Friendly: Greece 4-2 Norway
22.02.1989
Goals: Bratseth, Sørloth
Line-up (3-5-2): By Rise – Bratseth, Kojedal, Giske (c) – Løken, Gulbrandsen, Osvold, Berg, Halle – Sørloth (Fjørtoft 84), Agdestein (Jakobsen 69)
A relatively strong select conceded three times in eight second half minutes to go down heavily to an otherwise unimpressive Greek side. Bratseth’s equalizer for 1-1 was his first in country colours.

Friendly: Norway 0-3 Poland
02.05.1989
Line-up: Thorstvedt – Halle (Løken h-t), Kojedal, Bratseth, Giske (c), Mordt – Berg, Rekdal (Gulbrandsen 66), Osvold – Sørloth, Fjørtoft (Håberg 66)
A fairly strong Norway team were undone from left-back Mordt’s dreadful backpass, which set the visitors up for the first goal. A poor defensive header from Bratseth and then a late long distance shot which Thorstvedt failed to keep out made sure of a heavy home loss in their final friendly ahead of the Cyprus home qualifier.

Qualifier 4: Norway 3-1 Cyprus
21.05.1989, Ullevaal Stadion (Oslo)
Goals: Khristodoulou (own goal), Sørloth, Bratseth
Line-up (4-4-2): Thorstvedt – Halle, Bratseth, Kojedal, Giske (c) – Løken, Osvold, Berg (Gulbrandsen 83), Jakobsen – Sørloth (Agdestein 60), Fjørtoft
It was back to basics and 4-4-2 for Norway after a spell with five at the back. They were the better team throughout, but they failed to provide much creativity, especially from their central midfield, and the three first half goals apart, they did not cause many problems to the visiting defence, something which must have been a disappointment. Still, they had two centre-backs performing well, and ultimately they did what was expected from them against an opponent sitting very deep. This should reward them with plenty of interest for their home fixture with the Yugoslavs next month.

B friendly: Norway B 0-1 England B
22.05.1989, Stavanger (Stavanger stadion)
Line-up (4-4-2): By Rise (c) (Olsen HT) – Hansen, Tangen, Bjerkeland (Halvorsen 78′), Bjørnebye – J.E. Pedersen, Ingebrigtsen, Torvanger (Klepp HT), Fjetland – Amundsen (E. Pedersen 71′), Håberg.

Friendly: Norway 4-1 Austria
31.05.1989
Goals: Halle, Fjørtoft, Løken, Kojedal
Line-up (4-4-2): By Rise – Halle, Johnsen, Kojedal (c), Bjørnebye – Løken (Gulbrandsen 65), Berg, Osvold, Jakobsen – Sørloth, Fjørtoft (Agdestein 73)
Played out in a cold Oslo spring afternoon in front of a desperately small crowd and on a poor pitch, Norway took advantage of some truly slack Austrian defending. Back-up ‘keeper Ola By Rise played in Thorstvedt’s absence, and 19 year young Stig Inge Bjørnebye got his debut at left-back as there was no Giske (or Mordt). Bratseth was also absent, with 22 year old Erland Johnsen coming back into the team. Halle scored into an empty net after a fine Løken run, Fjørtoft got his head to a Lindenberger rebound for the second, then there was a left-footed finish from Løken, via Degeorgi, after Jakobsen’s fine run into the area, and finally a tap-in from Kojedal after a missed Aigner clearance. Løken, man of the match, came off with a not so serious injury, and was replaced wide right by Gulbrandsen.

Qualifier 5: Norway 1-2 Yugoslavia
14.06.1989, Ullevaal Stadion (Oslo)
Goal: Fjørtoft
Line-up (4-4-2): By Rise – Halle, Kojedal, Bratseth, Giske (c) – Løken, Berg (Gulbrandsen 83), Osvold, Jakobsen – Sørloth (Agdestein 63), Fjørtoft
TBC

Friendly: Norway 0-0 Greece
23.08.1989
Line-up: Thorstvedt – Hansen, Kojedal (c), Johnsen, Bjørnebye – Løken, Berg (Jakobsen h-t), Osvold, Mordt (Brandhaug h-t) – Sørloth, Fjørtoft
Test ahead of France game. Unusual full-back pairing, though teenager Bjørnebye is looking to stake his claim for a regular spot with Giske having retired. Again the unimpressive midfield combination of Berg and Osvold was tried out. Rare appearance for left-sided full-back Mordt under Stadheim, and it looks like he could’ve featured to the left in midfield. It is a result which would not have done much to promote excitement ahead of their next qualifier in two weeks’ time.

Qualifier 6: Norway 1-1 France
05.09.1989, Ullevaal Stadion (Oslo)
Goal: Bratseth
Line-up (4-4-2): Thorstvedt – Halle, Bratseth (c), Kojedal, Bjørnebye – Løken, Brandhaug (Berg 76), Ahlsen, Jakobsen – Andersen, Fjørtoft (Agdestein 76)
Norway were in need of a boost having lost to Yugoslavia, but it didn’t look likely as they were up against an improved French team. Fortunate to be just a goal down at half time, Norway improved after the break, as they were generously allowed to build confidence through possession as the visitors opted to sit back. The strong Bratseth would claim a late equalizer from a goalkeeping error after substitute Berg’s corner. Uplifting performance after all.

Qualifier 7: Yugoslavia 1-0 Norway
11.10.1989, Olimpijski Stadion (Sarajevo)
Line-up (4-4-2): Thorstvedt – Halle, Bratseth (c), Kojedal, Bjørnebye – Løken, Brandhaug, Ahlsen, Jakobsen – Andersen (Sørloth 72), Fjørtoft
An identical line-up to the one which had begun the France game last month took to the field, and Norway were for large portions of the game on par with their more illustrious opponents. However, the game had some incidents which would play their parts in the final outcome: Yugoslavia had midfielder Baždarević sent off early for spitting at the referee. Somehow, this made the Turkish official feel the need to make compensation towards the hosts, and for example, Norway had a valid goal inexplicably called off on the half hour. They too went a man down when Halle got a second booking early in the final period, and a fine Jakobsen shot from inside the area apart, they failed to trouble Ivković. Another ‘honourable’ defeat.

Friendly: Kuwait 2-2 Norway
25.10.1989
Goals: Sørloth, Fjørtoft
Line-up: By Rise – Halle, Johnsen, Kojedal (c), Bjørnebye – Gulbrandsen, Ahlsen, Skammelrsud (Riisnæs h-t), Jakobsen (Bohinen 11) – Sørloth, Fjørtoft
Norway came back from a two goal deficit to gain a friendly draw. They gave a full international debut to second tier Frigg midfielder Bent Skammelsrud (one appearance for the Olympic team nearly two years earlier), and then to two further midfielders who were brought on as substitutes in Vålerenga’s Lars Bohinen and Kongsvinger’s Dag Riisnæs. Both Sørloth and Fjørtoft’s goals were their third of the calendar year, making them Norway’s joint top 1989 goalscorers.

Qualifier 8: Scotland 1-1 Norway
15.11.1989, Hampden Park (Glasgow)
Goal: Johnsen
Line-up (5-3-2): Thorstvedt – Hansen, Johnsen, Kojedal (Halvorsen 83), Bratseth (c), Bjørnebye – Gulbrandsen, Ahlsen, Skammelsrud (Bohinen 59) – Sørloth, Fjørtoft
With various midfielders unavailable to him, Norway manager Stadheim had returned to a five man defensive line for this their final qualifier. The sturdy trio of Johnsen, Kojedal and captain Bratseth would physically contain the Scottish strikers, but collectively Norway were inferior to dominant hosts. They had ‘keeper Thorstvedt to thank for several fine stops, and particularly in midfield the Hampden visitors had struggled, with qualification debutant Skammelsrud a mere passenger, and with Gulbrandsen also looking out of his depth. Having conceded on the stroke of half time, Norway would conjure up an unlikely equalizer through Johnsen in inury time to deny Scotland a win, but it was still not enough to help France in the battle for second place.

Conclusion

TBC

Pos	Team	Pl	W	D	L	GF	GA	Pts
1	Yugoslavia	8	6	2	0	16	6	14
2	Scotland	8	4	2	2	12	12	10
3	France	8	3	3	2	10	7	9
4	Norway	8	2	2	4	10	9	6
5	Cyprus	8	0	1	7	6	20	1

Player statistics

Number of players used: 26
Number of players including unused substitutes: 32
Ever-presents (720 mins): 1 (Bratseth)
Leading goalscorer: Sørloth (3)
Yellow/red cards: 5/1

– overview

Player	Apps	XI	Sub	UnSub	Mins	Goals	Y/R
Agdestein	4	1	3		161
Ahlsen	3	3		1	270
Andersen	2	2		1	162
Berg	5	3	2		351
Bjørnebye	3	3		1	270
Bohinen	1		1		31
Brandhaug	5	5			436
Bratseth	8	8			720	2	1/0
By Rise	1	1		7	90
Fjørtoft	6	6		1	526	2
Giske	4	4			356
Gulbrandsen	5	2	3	1	203
Halle	6	5	1	1	463		1/1
Halvorsen	1		1		7
Hansen	1	1		2	90
Henriksen	2	2			167
Herlovsen	1	1			90
Jakobsen	6	5	1	1	455		2/0
Johnsen	3	3		3	270	1
Kojedal	7	7			623		1/0
Løken	6	6			540
Mordt				2
Olsen				1
Osvold	5	5			441	1
Rekdal				2
Riisnæs				1
Skammelsrud	1	1			59
Sundby	1	1			4
Sørloth	7	6	1		441	3
Tangen				1
Thorstvedt	7	7			630
Tveit				1

– game by game

Player	Sco (h)	Fra (a)	Cyp (a)	Cyp (h)	Yug (h)	Fra (h)	Yug (a)	Sco (a)	Apps	Mins
Agdestein			90	30	27	14			1+3	161
Ahlsen			R			90	90	90	3	270
Andersen	R					90	72		2	162
Berg	81	90		83	83	14			3+2	351
Bjørnebye					R	90	90	90	3	270
Brandhaug	90	90	90			76	90		5	436
Bratseth	90	90	90	90	90	90	90	90	8	720
By Rise	R	R	R	R	90	R	R	R	1	90
Fjørtoft	90	R		90	90	76	90	90	6	526
Giske	90	86 (injured)		90	90				4	356
Gulbrandsen		9	90	7	7		R	90	2+3	203
Halle	R	13	90	90	90	90	90		5+1	463
Henriksen	90	77							2	167
Herlovsen			90						1	90
Jakobsen	5	90	R	90	90	90	90		5+1	455
Johnsen	90	90		R	R		R	90	3	270
Kojedal		90	90	90	90	90	90	83	7	623
Løken	90		90	90	90	90	90		6	540
Mordt			R	R
Olsen					R
Osvold	90	81	90	90	90				5	441
Rekdal		R	R
Sundby	4								1	4
Sørloth	90	90	90	60	63		18	90	6+1	441
Thorstvedt	90	90	90	90		90	90	90	7	630
Hansen						R	R	90	1	90
Tangen						R
Skammelsrud								59	1	59
Bohinen								31	+1	31
Halvorsen								7	+1	7
Riisnæs								R
Tveit								R

– ratings

Pos	Player	Average rating	Number of rated games
1	Bratseth	7,21	7
2	Thorstvedt	7,06	6
3	Kojedal	7,05	6
4	Fjørtoft	6,90	7
5	Halle	6,90	4
6	Brandhaug	6,85	4
7	Jakobsen	6,84	5
8	Løken	6,80	5
9	Giske	6,80	4
10	Berg	6,70	4
11	Sørloth	6,62	5
12	Osvold	6,62	4

Explanation to table: Total number of rated games: 7. A player needs to have featured in half or more of the games in order to obtain an average rating.

Post-qualification

Friendly
04.02.1990 Norway 3-2 South Korea (Valletta, Malta)
Goals:
Line-up

Friendly
07.02.1990 Malta 1-1 Norway
Goal:
Line-up

Friendly
27.03.1990 Northern Ireland 2-3 Norway
Goals:
Line-up

Friendly
06.06.1990 Norway 1-2 Denmark
Goal:
Line-up