Record-breaking Ødegaard enjoying every minute
Monday, October 13, 2014
Article summary
Norway midfielder Martin Ødegaard was all smiles after becoming the youngest player to grace EURO qualifying at 15 years, 300 days. "It's cool to have the record," he said.
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Article body
• Martin Ødegaard becomes youngest ever player in EURO qualifying
• The 15-year-old describes coming off the bench in Norway's victory as a "great feeling"
• Norway coach Per-Mathias Høgmo says it was a "deserved win"
• Luboslav Penev far from despondent despite Bulgaria's second loss
• Next games: Azerbaijan v Norway, Bulgaria v Malta (16 November)
Martin Ødegaard, Norway midfielder
It was a great feeling playing at home in front of such a large crowd, and we got three points. Everything was great. I was nervous when I came on to the pitch, but when you are given a chance like that you just have to try and enjoy it. It's cool to have the record now. It's hard to describe in words everything that has happened to me this year. I just try and enjoy it all.
Per-Mathias Høgmo, Norway coach
We played a very good first half. In the second half we had a few opportunities on the counterattack. It was a deserved win for us. In our last two games we have allowed our opponents only one chance – that's very impressive.
It was a good opportunity for [Martin Ødegaard]. I decided to give him a role he knows well from his club. Before he went on I told him to do what he does for his club. I would rate his game a little above average today.
Håvard [Nielsen] did well to keep his shot down for the goal, and that's not easy when the ball is on the up. We have worked very hard to create some real goalscorers in this team. It's very good to see some of that work now paying off.
Luboslav Penev, Bulgaria coach
We've lost two of our first three games, but I still think we are in the race for third [place] in the group and we will fight Norway for it. There are a lot of matches ahead and we still have to play Norway at home in Sofia. We still have a chance of qualifying, at least for the play-offs.
I don't think we lost the game in the first half – we finished it in the best possible manner. We started the second half even better and the second period was very open. They took their chance, we didn't. I told my players that nothing was lost today. The goal is still in front of us and it is still achievable.