Euro 2016 play-offs - Norway vs Hungary preview: Will Real Madrid's Martin Odegaard break his international duck?

A look ahead to the Euro 2016 play-off tie at Ullevaal Stadion

Martin Odegaard (Getty Images)

It’s a big game for…

Martin Odegaard: Only 16 years old and the poster boy of Norwegian football, the Real Madrid wonder kid carries with him an enormous hype whenever he walks onto the pitch. Los Blancos’ youngest ever player, the talented playmaker already has seven international caps to his name. Yet to break his goalscoring duck, he will be looking to see his name in headlights and send Norway to their first major tournament in sixteen years.

Stats…

• Norway have not lost to Hungary since 1981.
• The Norwegians haven’t made it to major finals since Euro 2000.
• The Scandinavian country have lost their only Euro play-off, missing out on Euro 2004 due to a 5-1 aggregate defeat to Span, revenge for Norway beating them 1-0 in Euro 2000.
• They also missed out on the World Cup in 2006 by losing 2-0 to Czech Republic over two legs in the play-offs.
• Hungary’s last appearance on the international scale was the World Cup in 1986.
• Hungary have been Semi-Finalists at the European Championships twice – in 1964 and 1972 (their last appearance at the Euro’s).
• 89% the goals conceded by Hungary in qualifying came from open play.
• The Hungarians have never been in a European Championship play-off before, their sole appearance in a play-off was for the 1998 World Cup, but they were thrashed 12-1 on aggregate to Yugoslavia.

Remember when…

These two countries met in the group stage of qualifying for the 1982 World Cup. Hungary ran out 4-1 winners in their second encounter- where they also beat the Norwegians 2-1 in the first match. Hungary ended up securing a place at the Finals in expense of their opponents; however they would finish third in their group behind Argentina and Belgium.

Player to watch…

Alex Tettey: A familiar face in the Premier League with Norwich City, the robust defensive midfielder not known for his goalscoring attributes, chipped in with three goals in Norway’s qualifying campaign. The Ghanaian born player is likely to boss the midfield with his presence and power and is the engineman for his country. Breaking up the play, and starting attacks, the Hungary midfield face a real battle in the middle of the park.

Past three meetings…

Hungary 0, Norway 2 (Nielsen, Abdellaoue)
Friendly, November 2012

Norway 4 (Iversen, Braaten, Carew 2), Hungary 0
UEFA European Championship qualifier, June 2007

Hungary 1 (Gera), Norway 4 (Solksjaer 2, Stromstad, Pedersen)
UEFA European Championship qualifier, September 2006

Form guide…

Norway: LWWWDD

Hungary: LWDDWW

Vital information…

Kick-off time: 19.45pm, Thursday 12 November

TV: Sky Sports 3 HD, coverage starts from 19.40pm