It'll be tough for Yugoslavs against euphoric Norwegians

LIEGE (BELGIUM), JUNE 17. Norway will be calling on another dose of the `Brazil spirit' here on Sunday when it takes on Group `C' rival Yugoslavia with a place in the Euro 2000 quarterfinals at stake.

The unfancied Norwegians caused the first major upset of the tournament when they scored a 1-0 victory over Spain, supposedly one of the favourites to win this championship.

A delirious press in Oslo harked back to a historic night in the 1998 World Cup finals, when Norway came back to beat defending champion Brazil 2-1 in the group phase, booking its place in the second round against all expectations.

At Euro 2000, one more victory will ensure it reach the last eight. And given Yugoslavia's sloppy performance against no- hopers Slovenia, the objective is well within reach.

Yugoslavia may have a better side on paper, with half its team at the top clubs in Italy and Spain. But the way it conceded three goals to Slovenia underlined the sluggishness of Vujadin Boskov's back four.

Add to that the suspension of Lazio defender Sinisa Mihajlovic after his sending off last Tuesday, and there's every reason for Norway coach Nils Johan Semb to be optimistic.

Yugoslavia's Euro 2000 campaign was saved by the sheer inexperience and indiscipline of the Slovenians, who conceded three goals in six minutes.

Having convincingly locked out the stars of the Spanish Primera Liga, Norway's well-organised side is clearly not going to suffer the same impromptu collapse as the Slovenians. In short, Yugoslavia won't get out of jail a second time.

Erik Mykland, Norway's `man-of-the-match' against Spain, hammered the point home, saying: ``we have a wonderful spirit and we play as a very solid unit making it difficult for teams to break us down. We are hard to play against.''

Semb has meanwhile made it clear that the euphoria that followed the victory over the Spanish would soon evaporate, to be replaced by a determination to take three more points.

- AFP

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Section  : Sport
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