Odegaard involved in 3 goals as Norway win comfortably | OneFootball

Martin Odegaard played a key role in three of Norway’s five goals on Saturday, as they got their World Cup qualification campaign off to a perfect start.

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Arsenal’s Martin Odegaard pulled on the captain’s armband for Norway against Moldova on Saturday, hoping to get off on the right foot with regards to World Cup qualification.

It’s been a long time since Norway last played at a major tournament, with the team only qualifying for one European Championship (Euro 2000) since the turn of the century, and no World Cups.

With the likes of Odegaard and Erling Haaland in their current side, it will feel like a missed opportunity if they fail to make it once again.

But qualifying won’t be an easy task, with only one team from each group guaranteeing qualification (the runner-up makes the play-offs) and one of Germany and Italy to join Norway’s qualification group after their Nations League tie concludes.

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It was vital for Norway to get off to a strong start against one of the group’s lesser opponents in Moldova, and that’s exactly what they did.

Odegaard was key, playing a role in Norway’s second, third, and fourth goals of the match.

For the second goal, Odegaard played a clever through ball to Andreas Schjelderup, who squared for Haaland to finish. For the third, he put a corner into the box which fell to Thelo Aasgaard to convert on the rebound.

And for the fourth, Odegaard picked up an assist as he found Alexander Sorloth with another corner, who headed in for 4-0.

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It wasn’t a perfect performance from the Arsenal captain, as one or two cheap giveaways could have been costly on another day. But not on this occasion, as Norway ran out 5-0 winners.

Norway lead their qualification group on goal difference after their first game, with Israel also winning 2-1 against Estonia.

Germany and Italy will conclude their Nations League quarter-final on Sunday night, with the loser joining Norway’s group. Germany lead the tie 2-1 after their away leg.