Arsenal Captain Odegaard Faces Mixed Reviews After Norway’s Friendly Defeat
Arsenal’s captain, Martin Odegaard, recently represented Norway in an international friendly against Czechia on Friday evening.
While Odegaard has been enjoying a successful season with the Gunners, his performances with the national team have faced scrutiny.
Norway’s disappointment in failing to qualify for Euro 2024, finishing third in Group A behind Scotland, added pressure to their friendly match against Czechia as they aimed to kickstart their year positively ahead of the UEFA Nations League.
The game started with Norway taking the lead in the 20th minute courtesy of Oscar Bobb, who showcased his skills by dribbling past two Czech defenders and slotting the ball into the corner of the net.
However, their lead was short-lived as David Zima of Slavia Prague equalised with a header in the 36th minute.
The turning point came late in the match when Antonin Barak scored from a free kick, sealing a 2-1 victory for the Czech Republic and leaving Norway disappointed.
‘Absolutely horrible’
Norwegian media outlets, particularly Dagbladet, were critical of Norway’s overall performance, describing it as ‘absolutely horrible.’
However, Odegaard received mixed reviews, with Dagbladet giving him a 6 out of 10 rating, acknowledging his ball distribution but noting his challenges in making the final breakthrough pass.
‘Distributed balls all the time, but was not successful with the final breakthrough pass. Was involved a lot,’ he said.
Nettavisen, on the other hand, rated Odegaard a 5 out of 10, highlighting his initial energy but pointing out struggles in the first half and a potential injury concern.
‘Like the Norwegian team, started fresh, but struggled more and more in the first half.’
‘Seemed to have a slight limp on one occasion. Controls the Norwegian team well after the break when we press on at the start of the half,’ he added.
Despite the team’s shortcomings, Odegaard’s leadership and influence on the pitch were recognised, particularly in controlling Norway’s play during the second half.
As Arsenal fans await Odegaard’s return to club duties, his performance for Norway serves as a reminder of the challenges and expectations faced by top-level players on the international stage.
