Norway 3-1 Sweden: No Haaland, no problem as Larsen scores twice in friendly win

Norway made light of Erling Haaland's absence by beating neighbours Sweden 3-1 in a World Cup warm-up match in Oslo, as Jorgen Strand Larsen scored twice.

Haaland and Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard were handed extra rest as their team-mates played their final game on home soil before departing for the United States this week.

And that allowed other players to stake a claim for minutes at the tournament, with Crystal Palace striker Larsen chief among them.

His glancing header diverted Julian Ryerson's right-wing delivery into the far corner to put Norway ahead in the ninth minute, then RB Leipzig's Antonio Nusa lashed in a second from the left side of the area nine minutes later.

Norway went 3-0 up in the 37th minute when Larsen and Ryerson combined again, with the former getting in front of Jacob Widell Zetterstrom to head in the latter's corner on that occasion.

Ryerson had what would have been a third assist – for David Moller Wolfe – chalked off just after the hour mark, due to the Wolves wing-back being caught offside when finishing at the back post, before Stale Solbakken made a swathe of substitutions.

Sweden boss Graham Potter also made far-reaching changes from the bench, with Alexander Isak among those introduced, and the Liverpool man pulled a goal back with a brilliant, dipping strike in the 76th minute.

Sebastian Nanasi's well-taken header was also disallowed for offside for Sweden, who face Greece in another friendly in Stockholm on Thursday before opening their World Cup campaign against Tunisia on June 14.

Norway will take on Morocco in New Jersey on Sunday, ahead of their Group I meetings with Iraq, Senegal and France.

Data Debrief: Ryerson shines as Norway earn big win

Sweden were left in no doubt as to the superiority of their Nordic rivals, with Norway firing off 22 shots and amassing 2.42 expected goals, compared to their nine shots and 0.49 xG.

Ryerson was the star man, laying on two assists and creating a remarkable eight chances – more than all Sweden players combined (seven).

That should have come as no surprise, given the Borussia Dortmund man recorded more assists than any other defender from Europe's top five leagues in 2025-26 (18).