SOCCER: GHANA VRS. NORWAY

Dear Editor

GOAL

Nana Beyin Crenstil (Goldf.)

Sam Addo (Ghapoha)

DEFENCE

Atto Doudoo (Goldf.)

Stephen Baiddo (Goldf.)

Kasula DaCosta (Goldf.)

Osei Kuffour (Bayern Munchen)

Isaac Asare (Anderlecht)

Sam Johnson (Hearts)

Yaw Acheampong (IFK Gotenborg)

MIDFIELD

Abedi Pele (Torino)

Ebenezer Haga (Goldf.)

Odartey Lamptey (Aston Villa)

ATTACK

Yaw Preko (Anderlecht)

Anthony Yeboah (Leeds)

Charles Akonor (Fortuna Koln)

Kwame Ayew (Lecce)

On the other side of the field waiting to keep the flag

down and not even flying at half mast will the following

line up released yesterday May 16:

Erik Thorstvedt (Tottenham)

Frode Grodaas (Lillestrom)*

Henning Berg (Blackburn)

Ronny Johnsen (Lillestrom)*

Paal Lydersen (Start)*

Roger Nilsen (Sheffield United)

Lars Bohinen (Nottinham Forest) -- wizard dribbler

Gunnar Halle (Oldham)

Jan Ivar "Mini" Jakobsen (Rosenborg)* very very fluid

attacker on the left flank. Easy to commit penalty

against.Must not be allowed around the box. Kjetil Rekdal

(Lierse) - scored Norway`s only world cup goal in the US of

A Staale Solbakken (Lillestrom)*

Jostein Flo (Sheffield United) -- over 6ft tall with a very

powerful neck Harald Brattbakk (Rosenborg)*

Jan Aage Fjortoft (Middelsborough)

The coach is yet to annopunce the names of two more players

(NB: * refers to Norwegian local teams).

Interviewed on radio P4 yesterday the coach, a specialist

in match anaysis confessed that though he was not a

stranger to some of the players, he knew very little about

the style of play of the Black Stars as a team.

Ghanaians in Norway while anxiously awaiting the kick off,

are however praying that 25 May 1995 should not be a

repeat of the dose that was dished out to the German fans

a year or so ago by our darling Black Stars. After

humilating Cameroon to 6-1 defeat just after their rise to

fame in the Italy, the Norwegians will like to prove their

supremacy over African teams. A credit the Black Stars can

achieve is to break the 100% record the coach now enjoys

at home. The team has nit lost any nmatch at Ullevaal

Stadion since Egil Drillo Olsen took over as coach of the

national team some 3-4 years ago.

And from my layman`s point of view the Ghanaians are in

for a battle. Norway has one of the best defences in the

world but low goal scoring proficiency but on a good day

one can be in for trouble. The Dutch, English and the

Polish will never forget their experiences in the World Cup

qualifying matches. They did not only finish top of the

table but also scored many goals. Little wonder that they

moved to the 2nd spot in FIFA world ranking at that time.

Another point of interest is that the coach has not fielded

Jostein Flo for a long time now. To field him against the

Black Stars seems to suggest that much of their attack

will be in the air. Of late too he has been experimenting

with 2 in attack instead of the 1 he used in the world cup

and ended up with only one goal throughout the tournament.

Have a nice time everybody, whether you will be at Ullevaal

to watch or just stay where you are awaiting the results.