Flo sets his sights on Slovenia

ARNHEM (NETHERLANDS), JUNE 20. Norway striker Tore Andre Flo, sounding like a battle-weary soldier, is tired of having to fight at the front. After a bruising 1-0 defeat to Yugoslavia, the tall Chelsea player hopes the last Group C game against Slovenia tomorrow will give him more space to score goals and help Norway to the Euro 2000 quarterfinals.

Flo has not scored for his country since last October and, singled out and closely marked as the team's most dangerous player, feels frustrated. ``I feel okay but I still feel that I have much more to show,'' Flo said at a training session. ``So far it's been more fighting than playing football up front.'' After beating Spain 1-0 in its opening game, Norway lost to Yugoslavia yesterday. Norway lost defender Vegard Heggem to an old hamstring injury while Steffen Iversen suffered a broken nose and Bjorn Otto Bragstad needed four stitches.

Iversen is likely to be fit to start against Slovenia, playing off Flo and with Manchester United's Ole Gunnar Solskjaer also up front. Dan Eggen will continue to replace injured captain Henning Berg in defence with veteran Stig Inge Bjornebye coming in for Heggem.

Norway is level with Spain on three points, behind Yugoslavia on four and ahead of Slovenia on one. With Spain playing Yugoslavia, Norway knows that a draw might be enough while a win against Slovenia would secure it a quarterfinal place.

Slovenia, which led the Yugoslavs 3-0 before drawing 3-3, must win and hope Yugoslavia to do likewise.

Slovenia coach Srecko Katanec is a good friend of Yugoslav boss Vujadin Boskov and can be expected to have discussed Norway and Spain with him at length.

- Reuters

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Section  : Sport
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