Norway Under-21s and Switzerland Under-21s get their European Championship campaign underway on Thursday with a showdown in Cluj-Napoca.

With France and Italy also present in Group D, both teams are aware of the importance of getting their tournament underway with maximum points.

Match preview

Having not qualified for this tournament for a decade, Norway would have been hoping for a far more favourable draw than they have been given.

Nevertheless, this squad will be motivated to build on their excellent work during qualifying, accumulating 24 points from their 10 fixtures.

That total was enough to edge out the likes of Croatia, Finland and Austria, but Leif Gunnar Smerud's side have been less than impressive in the friendly internationals that have followed.

Just one win has been recorded in six matches - that being a 4-0 triumph in Czech Republic - and they are currently on a four-game winless streak, including back-to-back draws with Scotland.

While Norway did not field all of their stars during those fixtures, some momentum has been lost after convincing defeats to Netherlands and Portugal in March.

Meanwhile, Switzerland return to this tournament for the second time since they were runners-up in 2011, with their appearance two years ago ending in a group-stage exit.

However, Patrick Rahmen's side have the potential to be dark horses in this competition having earned a draw with Netherlands during the early phase of qualifying.

Switzerland ultimately finished as the best second-placed side in all the groups, ensuring that they were not required to come through the playoffs to book their spot in Romania and Georgia.

Norway are no strangers to playing their upcoming opponents, too, after losing by a 3-2 scoreline when the nations squared off in September.

Team News

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Smerud will want to find a balance between staying loyal to the Norway players that featured regularly during qualifying and those who have since been selected over the past nine months.

Joshua Kitolano is pushing to get the nod ahead of Tobias Christensen in midfield, while Oscar Bobb is hoping to get the nod over Osame Sahraoui on the flank.

Erik Botheim should lead the attack, despite having only netted twice during his 14 appearances at this level.

Twenty-one of this 23-player Switzerland squad play in their homeland, but Parma midfielder Simon Sohm and Darmstadt 98 forward Filip Stojilkovic should take their place in the side.

Kastriot Imeri and Dan Ndoye are the star players in the group, with the pair having chipped in 15 goals between them during their time with the Under-21s.

Norway Under-21s possible starting lineup:
Klaesson; Sebulonsen, Daland, Heggheim, Hjelde; Kitolano, Mannsverk, Hove; Bobb, Botheim, Evjen

Switzerland Under-21s possible starting lineup:
Saipi; Blum, Kronic, Stegiou, Vouilloz; Bares, Sohm; Ndoye, Imeri, Males; Stojilkovic

We say: Norway Under-21s 2-1 Switzerland Under-21s

All things point to this match being an even contest, both nations showing enough during the qualification period that they can at least test the more illustrious teams in their group. However, we are going to give Norway the edge, perhaps through showing a greater appetite for goals during the closing stages.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

Written by
Darren Plant

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