World Cup ’94 : WORLD CUP USA ’94 / GROUP E PREVIEW : Norway at a Glance

* COACH: Egil Olsen.

* KEY PLAYERS: Rune Bratseth, Erik Thorstvedt, Jan Age Fjortoft.

* STRENGTHS: Norway makes no apologies for using a virtually impregnable defense to get the results it desires. It is a frustrating team to watch and to play against because of this negative approach. Bratseth is a top-level sweeper with experience in the German Bundesliga. Several of the players are with English clubs, which could be a plus but probably is not. Goalkeeper Thorstvedt is experienced and reliable.

* WEAKNESSES: Scoring goals is always going to be a problem for a team that emphasizes defense. There is a general lack of imagination about the Norwegians’ play, but midfielder Jostein Flo and striker Fjortoft were in form at the end of the English season and scoring goals regularly, so perhaps there is hope.

* WORLD CUP HISTORY: One previous appearance. Record of 0-1-0. Never advanced beyond the first round.

* LITTLE-KNOWN FACT: In Norway’s official media guide, Olsen, the team’s coach, lists his marital status as follows: “Living together with Sigrun, two children.” He also claims to have made more money from playing poker than from coaching.

* OUTLOOK: If the Norwegians can withstand the heat, their defense is enough to frustrate the Irish and Mexicans, and possibly even the Italians, and earn them a place in the second round.

* PREDICTED FIRST-ROUND FINISH: Second.

ROSTER

No. Name Position 1 Erik Thorstvedt Goalkeeper 12 Frode Grodas Goalkeeper 13 Ola By Rise Goalkeeper 2 Gunnar Halle Defender 3 Erland Johnsen Defender 4 Rune Bratseth Defender 5 Stig Inge Bjornebye Defender 14 Roger Nilsen Defender 15 Karl Petter Loken Defender 18 Alf Inge Haland Defender 20 Henning Berg Defender 6 Jostein Flo Midfielder 7 Erik Mykland Midfielder 8 Oyvind Leonhardsen Midfielder 10 Kjetil Rekdal Midfielder 11 Jahn Ivar Jakobsen Midfielder 17 Dan Eggen Midfielder 19 Roar Strand Midfielder 22 Lars Bohinen Midfielder 9 Jan Age Fjortoft Forward 16 Goran Sorloth Forward 21 Sigurd Rushfeldt Forward