Norway v Malta background
Thursday, September 10, 2015
Article summary
Norway have surged up into the automatic qualification places in Group H with some great results in September, and a win against Malta would be another big boost.
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Article body
Two wins in September lifted Norway into the automatic qualifying places in UEFA EURO 2016 Group H and they will confirm their participation at the final tournament in France if they defeat Malta and Croatia fail to overcome Bulgaria.
• Norway are currently second in the section, two points clear of Croatia. They are guaranteed at least a play-off spot – via third position – even if they fail to win both their remaining games. Croatia have a superior head-to-head record in the event that the two sides finish level on points. Section leaders Italy hold a two-point cushion over the Nordic country.
• Malta can no longer qualify for the finals.
Previous meetings
• Joshua King set up the first and scored the other two as Norway won 3-0 in Malta in the teams' Group H encounter last October.
• Norway's record in nine matches against Malta is W7 D2 L0 (W3 D0 L0 at home). They have never conceded a goal at home to Malta, and have come out on top in all five previous competitive fixtures against the Mediterranean nation.
• Malta have twice held Norway to 1-1 draws – at the old Empire Stadium in Gzira on 5 November 1961 and at National Stadium Ta' Qali on 7 February 1990. However, they are now on a six-game losing streak against the Scandinavians.
Form guide
• Norway have not conceded a goal in their last three Group H outings (W2 D1), and are unbeaten in their last three competitive home matches (also W2 D1).
• Malta are without a win in 12 competitive fixtures (D2 L10) since a 1-0 FIFA World Cup qualifying victory in Armenia on 7 June 2013.
Disciplinary
• Vegard Forren, Tom Høgli, Håvard Nordtveit and Alexander Søderlund will incur a suspension with their next yellow cards.
• Paul Fenech is available after a one-match ban; Andrei Agius, Jonathan Caruana and Alfred Effiong will incur a suspension with their next yellow cards.
Trivia and links
• Malta striker Michael Mifsud knows Norway well, having played for Lillestrøm SK from 2004–07.
• Norway have not reached a major final tournament since UEFA EURO 2000.
• Norway have won all six games against Malta in UEFA's youth and men's age-limit tournaments.
• The four matches between Norwegian and Maltese sides in UEFA club competitions have produced three Norwegian victories and a 1-1 draw, Floriana FC holding Stabæk Fotball in a 2000 UEFA Intertoto Cup first-round duel, before losing the return leg 2-0.
