ligue1marseille

Jun 26 2009, 03:06 AM

I was always surprised with the association since the men's national team has a lot of potential, it's just that the results don't go your way often. You need a decent coach and definitely some more help from the top.

BBC Sport

 

Brede Hangeland is looking for another footballing miracle from Egil Olsen to rescue the Norwegians' fading World Cup qualification hopes against Scotland.

Olsen guided Norway to the World Cup finals in 1994 and 1998 but has returned as national coach with his side bottom of Europe's Group Nine.

"It is more or less our last chance to do something about our qualification hopes," said captain Hangeland.

"So I hope he has a miracle left in him. Let's wait and see."

Norway will slip out of contention for a runners-up place and qualification for the play-offs if they fail to beat the Scots in Oslo on Wednesday.

But Hangeland is encouraged by Norway's 1-0 friendly win in Germany in January, in what was Olsen's first game back.

"Historically, Olsen has done great things for the Norwegian national team," said the Fulham defender.

"He performed miracles 15 or 20 years ago and we saw some of that when we played Germany away earlier this year.

"Hopefully, we can repeat that a couple of more times in the coming games.

"We don't fear any of the Scottish players but we respect them. They have some very good players and a good team, so we will have to be at our best to win.

"There is more pressure on us as we have less points, but there is always pressure in football."

Olsen, the former Wimbledon boss who took charge after Age Hareide resigned in January, famously led Norway to a victory over Brazil at the 1998 finals and, under his tutelage, the Scandinavians peaked at number two in the world rankings.

He refused to apologise for his legendary route-one approach to football, claiming that even Brazil could learn a lesson from him.

"Most of the coaches in Norway disagree with me," he said.

"But I believe that, if you count forward passes, square passes and support passes, the most effective way to play is by playing around 75% of your passes forward and we have counted this.

"When we beat Brazil in 1998, we played 65% of our passes forward and Brazil played 35% forward.

"If Brazil had played 65% forward, they would have beaten us - easily. So that is my philosophy.

"I know that you can't play 100% of passes forward, that would be stupid, but I think we could increase it."

Olsen knows there is no margin for error if his side are to make the 2010 finals and is ready to go for broke.

"We have to win this game, so we'll try hard," said the Norway coach, who expects the Scots to play a more defensive game.

"That means that we have to take bigger risks than normal.

"I watched Scotland against Iceland and they play a different game than we do. We play more direct than the Scots.

"They play more to foot and more shorter passes. They have good football players and good dribblers - they have types of players that we don't have."