Dutch encounter for Norway
Thursday, March 7, 2002
Article summary
Norway host the Netherlands in Oslo on 21 August as part of their EURO 2004™ build up.
Article body
Norway will meet the Netherlands in a friendly international at Oslo's Ullevaal stadium on 21 August as part of their EURO 2004™ build-up.
Denmark friendly cancelled
The Norwegains had originally planned a friendly against Denmark on the same date but as the two sides ended up in the same qualifying group for the prestigious tournament they decided to look for other opponents. However, they did meet in an unofficial friendly on March 6.
'Perfect warm-up'
"I am really happy that we were able to replace the Danes with the Dutch," said Norwegian national coach Nils Johan Semb. "Even if the Netherlands are not going to the [FIFA] World Cup, they have a lot more football stars than Denmark and they will be perfect warm-up opponents for us.”
Bad memories
Norway have faced the Dutch on 17 occasions, winning five times, drawing six and losing six. The last time the two countries met was in 1995 when the Netherlands won 3-0 in Rotterdam in the qualifying campaign for the EURO 96™.
Dutch face Czechs
In their respective EURO 2004™ qualifying groups, Norway face Denmark, Romania, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Luxembourg, while the Dutch take on Czech Republic, Austria, Belarus and Moldova.
