Olsen: “Ireland try to play like Barcelona”
Speaking at a press conference yesterday, Norwegian head coach Egil Olsen discussed the varying Irish tactics as well as comparing the 2010 group of players to those Norway faced in the 1994 World Cup.
Olsen praised the Irish attacking spirit, and also the flair of some of the Irish players, having seen videos of Trapattoni’s men in action. “I have seen Ireland in the last matches and they have a more old-fashioned play, with the long ball up in the air,” said Olsen. “And other times they look like they try to play like Barcelona. I’m not quite sure if that’s very smart, but I feel that they have both of these elements in the team. We have not! We don’t play like Barcelona.”
The manager nicknamed ‘Drillo’ was the country’s international manager from 1990 to 1998, and Iraq manager in 2007, before returning to manage his country last year. He brought them to the 1994 World Cup, Norway’s second time ever in the finals, and first since 1938. There, they faced Jack Charlton’s Republic of Ireland side in Group E, a stale match which ended 0-0. Recalling that game, and comparing the current team to them, Olsen said “They are much better now than in ’94. The football now is much better. The players are much better individually. They have better skill.”
Since returning to the managerial post for the Norwegian senior international side, Olsen has had a tremendous record. They have played 15 games, won 10, drawn 2, and lost 3 – a 66.6% win rate, with 21 goals scored and 12 conceded. They currently sit at the top of Group H in Euro 2012 Qualifying, on 9 points from 3 games, with a game in hand over second-placed Portugal, who they beat 1-0 at home in September.
Fans travelling to tonight’s international friendly at the Aviva Stadium should not expect a goal glut against Norway, with their last 11 games ending either 1-0 or 2-1.
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Ireland play like Barcelona??…if only…
The key word is “try”. It’s definitely not a compliment knowing Olsen’s past quotes.
We don’t even ”try”… more like Stoke City.
It’s definitely no compliment when Drillo says Ireland is trying to play like Barcelona. He seems to believe that a team should play its strengths up and its weaknesses down. Having seen Norway play a few matches recently, there is little doubt they do that and they can essentially beat every team they face.
Your statistics are somehow wrong though. In 2008 and 2009, Norway have played 19 matches, won 13, drawn 2, and lost 4. In 2009, the win percentage is a strong 78 %, but in total it is 68 %. Still solid since Capello only has 66 %.
Age Hareide was the Norway coach in 2008, so my stats are only for Drillo’s games.
Sorry, I meant 2009 and 2010. In 2008, the Norwegian team didn’t win a single match. Including that would certainly pull down the win percentage considerably.
But to be clear, Drillo’s national team has lost against South Africa, the Netherlands, Ukraine and Croatia. So when your numbers only lists three losses, they must be from before the Croatia match and after the Ukraine match. Including the latest matches, the win percentage under Drillo is 78 %. It really doesn’t influence your conclusion, but here are the numbers:
19 matches with Drillo:
2009: 6-2-2 (win percentage 60)
2010: 7-0-2 (win percentage 78)
total win percentage: 68
It will be interesting to see just how well the Norwegian team can do against Denmark and Portugal next year. Hopefully they’ll qualify. Without any interference from Thierry Henry, there’s a good chance Ireland could also qualify!
Ah thanks Drillo, got the stats from wikipedia. Should’ve checked before posting them – silly undergrad style mistake!
He’s still a heck of a manager, his team are very well organised, and take the chances they get.
Nothing wrong with that. As I said, the point comes clear even from slightly outdated numbers.
And yes, he’s absolutely a brilliant manager. I’ve seen some of his former players say that he is exceptional at making the players believe, usually downplaying the opponents when they are good (Portugal, for example, wasn’t a very good team, but Cyprus definitely represented true quality). A skilled player is typically also played down. A famous example of that happened ahead of the Brazil match Norway won in the 1998 World Cup where a defender was a little worried about facing Cafu or Roberto Carlos. Olsen accordingly told him “you’re quicker than him right?”. The player had to acknowledge that he was. Olsen then said “you’re also better than him in the air, right?” and the defender again agreed. Olsen then concluded: “So basically you’ll have no problem beating him on the ground or in the air.” The player did a great match and seemed very confident in himself.
Olsen also organizes the defense well, but he doesn’t really instruct his players all that much. The offensive play, in particular, is mostly left to the players. He urges them to use their strengths and he wants them to be extreme when they attack. He has a very scientific approach to the game and recognizes that it’s easier to score when the other team has few players on the right side of the ball. And taking the chances, as you say, is vital (particularly for a team lacking qualities). He stresses that again and again.
I think these above points has rarely been written about in the English language and although I may have bored you, I thought perhaps it could be of some interest. Other managers could definitely learn a thing or two from his approach to the game.
Actually, those are excellent points, and very interesting. Fair play. I’d love to hear similar stories about our own boss – backing up why he’s always proclaimed to be a great tactician and manager.
It’s a pity he wasn’t more of a success at Wimbledon. He was even good for Iraq, and I’d say that’s a more or less impossible job.
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