Local-based players make up Norway U-19’s squad for Malta finals

The last national team to announce their squad for the U-19’s European Championships is Norway with the Nordic side releasing their list of players on Wednesday.

The Scandinavian team is coached by Portuguese Luis Pimenta and will be facing Iceland, Greece, and Spain in Group B when the tournament rolls into action next month, in Malta.

Majority of the players named by Pimenta are all based in Norwegian football including at the likes of Molde FK, Aaelsund and Brann.

Two players are based abroad in Alwande Roaldsoy of Atalanta – 25 games, 1 goal with the youths, and Oliver Braude of Netherlands’ Heerenveen.

“Over the past two years, we have worked with the 2004-born players in order to develop them for the national team,” Pimenta told a news conference.

“We qualified brilliantly, recording the best-attacking record and the best goal difference of all the 52 nations involved in the qualifications.”

SQUAD

GOALKEEPERS
Magnus Rugland Ree (Viking), Viktor Engh (Lyn), Peder Hoel Lervik (Molde).

DEFENDERS
Vetle Walle Egeli (Sandefjord), Dylan Ryan Murugesapillai (Traeff), Aleksander Andresen (Stabaek), Daniel Bassi (Tromso), Nikolai Hopland (Aalesund), Vegard Solheim (FK Haugesund), Simen Haram (Aalesund), Rasmus Holten (Brann).

MIDFIELDERS
Alwande Roaldsoy (Atalanta, Italy), Isak Tomar Hjorteseth (Brann), Niklas Odegard (Molde), Syver Aas (Skeid), Oliver Braude (Heerenven, Netherlands).

FORWARDS
Niklas Wassberg (Brann), Oskar Sivertsen (Kristiansund), Henrik Skogvold (Lillestrom), Erik Flataker (Sogndal), Benjamin Faraas (HamKam).

Meanwhile, one of Spain’s players heading to the Malta finals has swapped Barcelona for a move in the Belgium’s top-flight.

Forward Victor Barbera has been announced as a new Club Brugge player by the Belgian side, on Wednesday.

The 18-year-old is part of the Spanish side that will be looking to add a 12th youth title to their cabinet.

He has been a regular player for the Barcelona B side finding the net on eight occasions in the league while scoring seven goals in just five appearances in the prestigious Youth League.