World Cup

[monks data]

World Cup Qualifying - Europe | Group Stage

Oct 8, 2017 at 7.45pm UK

Norway Norway
1-0
N. Ireland Northern Ireland

Brunt (71' og.)

FT(HT: 0-0)

Build-up

Reaction

Football

Lars Lagerback: 'England unbeaten streak counts for little against Northern Ireland'

By Giuseppe Labellarte, Reporter | 07 October 2017

Norway boss Lars Lagerback claims that his unbeaten record against England will count for little when his side faces Northern Ireland on Sunday.

Lars Lagerback has claimed that his unbeaten record against England will count for little when Norway face Northern Ireland in Oslo on Sunday.

The 69-year-old was manager of Iceland when they shocked Roy Hodgson's side at Euro 2016 to improve his personal streak against the Three Lions to seven games without defeat.

However, Lagerback - who has also managed his native Sweden - believes that Northern Ireland will be a completely different proposition when Norway face Michael O'Neill's side in World Cup qualifying.

"As far as England playing at the Euros and maybe comparing them with the Northern Ireland team, I think it's a big difference in the style of playing," Lagerback, whose Norway side lost 2-0 in Belfast earlier this year, told Sky Sports News.

"I don't think we have any advantage with that [record]. Generally, why I have been lucky to have good results against British teams, and especially England, is because the players know the players very well.

"I think that is a little bit of an advantage, not least mentally. I think that's more it. But if you compare England and Northern Ireland I think they will be different matches."

Norway are out of contention to qualify for Russia as they sit nine points behind second-placed Northern Ireland with just one game left in Group C.