Norway manager Stale Solbakken has explained why Martin Odegaard produced a subdued performance in the Nations League win over Wales, revealing the Arsenal captain was ill and had barely slept the night before the match.
Odegaard played the full 90 minutes as Norway ran out comfortable 3-1 winners, with goals from Antonio Nusa, Andreas Schjelderup and Erling Haaland. However, the midfielder's lack of usual energy was noted by former Norway international Kjetil Rekdal.
Odegaard's illness revealed
'I think he was terribly tame today,' Rekdal told TV 2. 'He looked tired and didn't have the movement he usually has. I think he was much less visible than he usually is.'
Solbakken, however, explained that Odegaard had been unwell, saying: 'We have had a captain who has been lying around all night and spitting, and who was allowed to take some other liberties than he was supposed to. If you lie down all night and throw up, that's it. All credit to him for going the distance. We had a conversation during the break that he should just drive from the start and let us know when the tank was empty.'
Teammates praise Odegaard's commitment
Odegaard's dedication was praised by several teammates, including David Moller Wolfe, who said: 'It's absolutely insane. He controls the pace of the match the way he wants and the way we've become very accustomed to him doing it. It says a lot about him and how good a player and leader he is.'
Patrick Berg, who came on as a second-half substitute, added: 'I understood that Martin had a bad night. It's not exactly optimal when you're going out and playing a football game. It's strong of him to be able to finish.'
