Norway coach Egil Olsen believes that Portugal are the best national side in the world currently but stressed that he has a plan to overcome them this weekend.
Portugal will host Norway in the Euro 2012 qualifying match this weekend and Norway coach Egil Olsen is already planning some key tactics ahead of that match in Lisbon. The Norwegians overcame Portugal 1-0 back in September last year and they also currently lead Group H by three points ahead of Paulo Bento's men.
This time around, the challenge seems pretty much harder due to Portugal's home advantage but Olsen believes that he has a definite plan to overcome a team that he hailed as the best current national side.
"In my opinion, Portugal are the world's best national team at the moment. The best evidence to back that up is the way they beat Spain 4-0.
"Portugal are favourites, but I am optimistic. We can take a point, and even win. Portugal have to win against us, and that may be to our advantage. We will meet them with some of the things we are best at – discipline and defensive organisation.
"They may have the ball 65%, even 70% of the time. We will have to look to hit them on the counter. Portugal are a world-class side, but are at their best offensively."
This time around, the challenge seems pretty much harder due to Portugal's home advantage but Olsen believes that he has a definite plan to overcome a team that he hailed as the best current national side.
"In my opinion, Portugal are the world's best national team at the moment. The best evidence to back that up is the way they beat Spain 4-0.
"Portugal are favourites, but I am optimistic. We can take a point, and even win. Portugal have to win against us, and that may be to our advantage. We will meet them with some of the things we are best at – discipline and defensive organisation.
"They may have the ball 65%, even 70% of the time. We will have to look to hit them on the counter. Portugal are a world-class side, but are at their best offensively."
