Norway produced an impressive attacking display to beat Sweden 3-1 in an international friendly in Oslo on Monday, in a result that will be closely watched by teams preparing for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, including Senegal.
The Scandinavian side, who are set to face Morocco in their final warm-up match before the tournament in the United States, Mexico and Canada, showed strong form at the Ullevaal Stadion despite the absence of star forwards Erling Haaland and captain Martin Ødegaard.
The performance will also be of interest to Senegal, who recently suffered a 3-2 defeat to the United States in their own preparation campaign, as Norway are among their expected group-stage opponents at the tournament.
Strong Norway display despite key absentees
Even without Haaland, who was rested and watched from the stands, Norway showed attacking depth and control throughout the match.
Coach Ståle Solbakken’s side, who had mixed results in March with a 2-1 defeat to the Netherlands and a goalless draw against Switzerland, appeared revitalised in front of their home supporters.
Atletico Madrid striker Alexander Sørloth was named in the starting line-up, but it was Crystal Palace forward Jørgen Strand Larsen who stole the spotlight with a brace in the first half.
Strand Larsen opened the scoring in the 8th minute before doubling his tally in the 37th minute, as Norway dominated large spells of the opening period.
Their pressure and intensity repeatedly unsettled the Swedish defence, leaving the visitors struggling to contain attacking runs from wide areas.
Between the two goals, Antonio Nusa added a third for Norway with a well-taken finish, further underlining the home side’s superiority in the match.
Sweden, managed by Graham Potter, struggled to match Norway’s tempo and attacking fluidity for much of the encounter. Although they managed to find a consolation goal through Alexander Isak in the 76th minute, it did little to shift the overall balance of the game.
By that stage, Norway had already taken firm control, with their early goals proving decisive in shaping the contest.
The result gives Norway momentum heading into their final warm-up fixture before the World Cup.
Their meeting with Morocco on Sunday, June 7, will be their last opportunity to fine-tune preparations for the tournament.
For Senegal, Norway’s strong performance serves as a reminder of the attacking threat they will face in the group stage, particularly given the depth of options available even in the absence of key names like Haaland and Ødegaard.
As teams continue their build-up across Europe and beyond, Norway’s display in Oslo will add further intrigue to what promises to be a highly competitive World Cup in North America.
