Press release 2010.09.24

Norway vs. United Kingdom postgame report

Final score: 38 – 44 (OT)
Titan Bowl
Attendance: 101.000


Recap:
Norway was hoping for an upset, whilst the UK was hoping to avoid a 2nd upset against them in a row. The men flying the Union Jack were not the ones to get their hopes crushed today, as they instead crushed the ones of Team Norway. With France’s third win in a row, this gets the UK in 2nd place in Group A, while Norway is now in 3rd.
The United Kingdom took the lead in the 1st quarter, but Norway kept up through the entire game, forcing the decisive score to come in overtime. The Norwegian offense missed on a couple of key opportunities –the stuffed 4th down conversion attempt on the drive following the interception by Sven Høyvik comes to mind-, while their British counterpart managed to score when it mattered most.
Defensively Norway managed to force a turnover, which the offense promptly turned into a wasted drive. The Norwegian coverage downfield was less than favourable, as Team Norway for the first time in the tournament gave up a long pass TD. Switching Arild Krane and Kristian Langø on the DEs didn’t bring any more pressure. On a positive; Norway allowed no sacks today. Offensively Norway’s farewell to the rushing game didn’t seem to matter much; there were more passing yards, but still fewer than the opponent – and most importantly: One less TD. The United Kingdom is now at 2-1, and will be facing an Australian side looking for revenge next week. Team Norway faces France at home in Norway in a must-win game for them. A Norwegian loss while the UK beats Australia would most likely mean that the UK and France will finish as the top two of the group.


Stars of the game:
Offensive MVP Team Norway: TE Ronny Fjellanger
Defensive MVP Team Norway: LB Sven Høyvik
Special Teams MVP Team Norway: KR Yoshikatsu Helgerud
Offensive MVP Team United Kingdom: TE Reece Stokes
Defensive MVP Team United Kingdom: DE Jamie Patrick Brennan
Special Teams MVP Team United Kingdom: P Harvey Matthews


Coaches’ comments:
All the talk of the UK being the top team in the group and the rest of us fighting for 2nd place changed with their loss last week. It have opened the group up, but it actually made the road to the World Cup more difficult unless we can beat the UK once. Today was not to be that day, which makes it even tougher for us as the opportunities now are even fewer. Basically we must win each of the remaining three games to be sure of finishing in the top two. This coming week we face France in Norway. They’re the top team in the group based on the standings right now, but we played them tough in our first game in France. It’s a must win game for us, and that’s how we’ll prepare for the game.


Kind regards,

Team Norway

Press release 2010.10.01

Norway vs. France pregame report

The first week of rematches in the World Cup qualification stage sees Norway (1-2) take on Group A leaders France (3-0) in Norway. In the first match between these two sides, France won 17-10 at home in Yaya’s Stadium. In this pregame report we'll give some insight into what to expect from our team, and what we expect to face from the French national team. A win for France today will mean they’re definitely ready for the World Cup. A win for Norway means they’re still in the race, but the Norwegians will need to keep winning throughout the rest of the qualification stage to get to the World Cup.


Norway starting lineups:
Offense
LT: Hans Heiberg
LG: Levi Martinsen
C: Roger Viken
RG: Mattias Alnæs
RT: Christer Hægeland
X (LWR): Isac Mandelid
Y (RTE): Ronny Fjellanger
Z (RWR): Sondre Herland
QB: Nils Wiken
2 (LTE): Joakim Mydland
3 (FB): Kaspar Tangstad

Defense
LDE: Kristian Langø
NT: Mons Flo
RDE: Arild Krane
LOLB: Oskar Nordhagen
ILB: Gaute Nguyen
ILB Abel Gudmundsen
ROLB: Sven Høyvik
LCB: Leif Halvorsrud
FS: Aleksander Dammen
FS: Syver Rong
RCB: Oliver Bævre


When Norway has the ball:
Norway will play a balanced ace double tight formation today:

-----------------------------------LOS------------------------------------
WR----------------TE---LT---LG--C--RG---RT---TE----------------WR
------------------------------------QB-------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------FB-------------------------------------

Just like last week, we will focus on the passing game. That means we’ll have our best blocking back, Kaspar Tangstad, in the backfield. We’ve decided to go back to our balanced ace formation rather than last week’s trips formation.
We expect Team France to be in their inverted umbrella defense, which has worked well enough for them so far, and which worked very well against Norway the first time the teams met. No reason to change a winning formula, eh? There are no changes in personell from last week for Team Norway’s offense, but wideout Isac Mandelid moves from the right side to the left side of the formation.


When France has the ball:
Norway will play a 3-4 defense today:
-----------------------------------LOS----------------------------------
-----------------------RDE--------NT--------LDE----------------------
-------RCB-------ROLB----ILB--------ILB----LOLB---------LCB-----
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------SF-----------SF------------------------------

Team Norway is still looking for a formula on defense that gets us what we want to do: Avoid plays for large gains AND put pressure on the passer. Yardage-wise, our best game defensively was our first game against France. We did get some pressure on the QB, but no sacks. Today we will be playing a 3-4 defense, with the safeties both backed up.
Team France are expected to be in a balanced ace double tight formation as they’ve been throughout the qualification. We expect them to be relatively confident in their schemes due to the win-loss record it has given them so far. DT Karsten Hvattum leaves the field when we go from last week’s 4-3 to this week’s 3-4. He is replaced by LB Abel Gudmundsen.


Special teams:
We make no changes here, as we’ve found what we believe is the best combination of players in this department.


Coaches’ comments:
We come into this game not knowing for sure whether we’ve already had our best results against good teams, or whether we’ve had our worst results against teams we can beat. We have tremendous respect for our French opponent, but we have prepared with one goal in mind: To win. This is really it for us, and a win is what is required of Team Norway. The coaching staff knows it, the players know it, and the home crowd expects it. It’s time to deliver.


Good luck to all nations playing today!

Kind regards,

Team Norway

stoo12009 wrote: nice start by your guys

Yeah, started well. Too bad it's not the result after three quarters that counts

we at team USA would like to know if you're for hire for your wonderful postgame analysis!

Press release 2011.06.10

Norway is back for World Cup qualifications for the third time.
We did not qualify the first time around despite some very close results in the majority of our games. In the second attempt we succeeded in qualifying, but failed to make an impact once in the actual World Cup.

The stage is set for the third attempt at qualifying, which based on previous results will also be our main goal. If we get there, we will adjust our goals accordingly.

The time to prepare has been shorter and the resources far less than the first time we gave it a try, but changes has been made to the roster that was the same for both World Cup I and World Cup II.

The following players have been cut today:
RB Johan Vike, Heimdal Heroes
RB Philip Malvik, Zulu Slayers
WR Ali Ellingsen, Heimdal Heroes
WR Krister Haugnes, The New Age Philosophers
OL Knut Fuglestad, Heimdal Heroes
TE Ronny Fjellanger, Heimdal Heroes
DL Marcus Fanebust, X-treme
DL Karsten Hvattum, Crvena Zvezda
DL Arild Krane, Heimdal Heroes
LB Børge Wahl, Kamikaze
LB Remy Aune, Heimdal Heroes
CB Leif Halvorsrud, New Orleans Saints
KR Shayne Hansen, The New Age Philosophers
KR Yoshikatsu Helgerud, Heimdal Heroes

The following players have been called up today:
RB William Kaasa, Kristiansand Sharks
RB Bjørn Fløysvik, X-treme
WR Pelle Helvik, Sandnes Oilers
OL Sebastian Tchakirian, English Steel
TE Heine Akselsen, Juan Renegades
DL Daniel Myhrer, Danish Dark Horses
DL Anas Bru, Kristiansand Sharks
DL Bjarne Vestby, Sandnes Oilers
LB Adam Heen, X-treme
LB Asle Vikanes, Sandnes Oilers
CB Luka Sperre, Reservoir Docs
KR Sigmund Juul, Kristiansand Sharks
KR Leon Gram, Sandnes Oilers

More changes may come during the qualifying rounds.

Upcoming games, group stage.
Tonight we face Brazil to kick off our games in Qualifying Group A. The group consists of Denmark (ranked 5th in the World), Brazil (11th), Norway (20th) and Belgium (22nd). We recognize that we'll be underdogs to qualify. We'll give our best in every game and if are talented enough to deserve a spot in the World Cup - we'll get it.

Good luck to all teams participating in the Qualifying rounds!

Also - a big thumbs up to those who have volunteered to help out scout for the team, and the owners who have sent information on players that may be national team roster material. Thank you!

Kind regards,

Team Norway