Norway lose big names but squad remains strong

MAN United striker Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Liverpool defender John Arne Riise are both out of Norway’s clash with the Republic of Ireland at Lansdowne Road tomorrow night.

The pair, along with Leeds United midfielder Erik Bakke and Blackburn Rovers defender Henning Berg were withdrawn from the squad yesterday though manager Nils Johan Semb still has a strong squad to choose from with the likes of Aston Villa's Ronny Johnsen, Valencia's John Carew and Sunderland's Tore Andre Flo still available. Spurs' striker Stefan Iversen has also been added to the squad.

Currently topping Group Two ahead of Denmark and Romania, the Norwegians are confident that they can overturn Ireland with Flo who will face Sunderland team mate Kevin Kilbane believing that this current Norway side is far stronger than the team that missed out on qualification for the 2002 World Cup.