Carew back in Norway fold

Valencia CF striker John Carew is back in the Norway squad for the EURO 2004™ qualifier against Denmark on 7 September.

Hard summer
Carew was dropped for last week's friendly against the Netherlands but has been recalled as one of the four strikers in the squad. Yet, despite winning the Spanish title with Valencia, Carew has admitted that he was not ambitious enough last year and has trained harder than ever over the summer.

'Faster and better'
"I've lost five kilos and feel much faster and better than for a long time," he said. "I hope that Norway play a 4-4-2 against Denmark as this makes it easier for a striker than a 4-5-1-formation."

Experienced goalkeeper
Frode Grodås continues as first-choice goalkeeper ahead of Sunderland AFC's Thomas Myhre, who has a slight injury. The 37-year-old Grodås, who plays for LF Hønefoss, did well against the Dutch and keeps his place after being left out of the national team since 1999.

Under pressure
National coach Nils Johan Semb needs a win against Denmark after his side's failure to qualify for Euro 2000 and the 2002 FIFA World Cup. Norway and Denmark are in Group 2 along with Bosnia-Herzegovina, Luxembourg and Romania.

Norway squad
Grodås, Holtan, Backer, Basma, Lundekvam, Berg,  R Johnsen, Hoftun, Bergdølmo, Pereira, Leonhardsen, Solskjær, Strand, Iversen, F Johnsen, Larsen, Andersen, Bakke, Riise, Rushfeldt, Carew