Norway unsure which Yugoslavia they will face

But the Yugoslavs are another matter.

In their opening match against Slovenia, two radically different Yugoslavias were seen. One minute they looked listless and slow, the next they were transformed into one-touch wizards.

The fear in Belgrade is that the Yugoslavia on show on Sunday will be the side that went 3-0 down and allowed Slovenia to run rings around them for 60 extraordinary minutes.

The worry in Oslo is that Vujadin Boskov’s men carry on where they left off against Slovenia, when they scored three quickfire goals in the second half with only 10 men to stage one of the greatest of comebacks.

"They have some outstanding individual players but they are an unpredictable team to plan for," said Norwegian coach Nils Johan Semb whose side upset group favourites Spain 1-0 in their first game.

"It’s certainly easier to prepare for a game against Spain than it is to prepare to play Yugoslavia."

FORCED CHANGES

Adding to the uncertainty, veteran Yugoslav coach Vujadin Boskov is in a quandary about who to play in a match that may see Norway through to the quarter-finals but will not settle anything for Yugoslavia.

Predrag Mijatovic will start up front but Boskov’s dilemma concerns his partner — should it be Darko Kovacevic who has recovered from a muscle strain, or Savo Milosevic, the two-goal hero from the Slovenia game?

Kovacevic started last time but, despite his greater height, the top scorer from last season’s UEFA Cup was largely ineffectual while Milosevic’s arrival as substitute galvanised the Yugoslavs.

In defence, Yugoslavia have at least one forced change to make after Lazio’s Sinisa Mihajlovic was sent off against Slovenia and banned for one match.

Norway also have to make a change in defence. Captain Henning Berg is out with a hamstring strain and will be replaced by Dan Eggen.

Tore Andre Flo, identified by Boskov as the most dangerous Norwegian, starts up front but could take a wider position with Manchester United’s Ole Gunnar Solskjaer moving into the main striker’s slot.

Flo has not scored for his country in 560 minutes since Norway played Latvia in Riga last October.

"I have two or three thoughts in my mind and, of course, I am thinking about making changes," said Semb. (Reuters)