Denmark have spent the past decade being the best side in Scandinavia, however, they spent their summer on the sofa while Norway were minutes away from making the 2026 World Cup semi-finals, suggesting the tide has turned.
Norway closed the gap to Denmark in the last UEFA Nations League cycle, earning promotion to League A, and they will fancy their chances of topping the section ahead of the Danes, Portugal and Wales.
The Scandinavian pair meet in Oslo for a Nations League curtain-raiser on Thursday night and the expectation is Norway will show how far they’ve come under Stale Solbakken.
Norway v Denmark Tips Summary
Best Bet - Norway to win @ 5/6
Alternative Bet - Martin Odegaard to score or assist @ 11/10
Bet Builder - Over 2 goals, Antonio Nusa 2+ shots, Joachim Andersen to be booked @ 27/4
Norway v Denmark Prediction
Best Bet: Norway to win @ 5/6
Being touted as dark horses ahead of a major tournament can often be a curse - just ask Turkey (2020), Czech Republic (2006) and Turkey again (2026) - but Norway took that tag in their stride over the summer.
Solbakken’s side laid down a marker with a 4-1 rout of Iraq and then really got people talking with a 3-2 win over another potential dark horse, Senegal. Wins over Brazil and Ivory Coast soon followed and taking quarter-final opponents England to extra-time deserves plenty of credit.
With Erling Haaland leading the line, they will always be a threat. That, plus their impressive form, spells trouble for a Denmark side who have managed only two wins in six games and face a period of regression as their golden generation fades out.
Alternative Bet: Martin Odegaard to score or assist @ 11/10
Haaland is the obvious threat for Norway but his odds to find the net are understandably short after another strong start to the season with Manchester City, so taking another Premier League title hopeful to step up could be the better play.
Martin Odegaard has started the season well for Arsenal, scoring four goals in seven starts, and he is a creative wizard for his national side, racking up 11 assists in his last 10 competitive Norway outings.
With Haaland to aim for, the playmaking maestro always has a chance of notching an assist, while his solid start in front of goal in the early part of Arsenal’s season makes an odds-against price for him to register a goal involvement in Oslo a price worth taking.
Norway v Denmark Bet Builder Tip
Over 2 goals
Antonio Nusa 2+ shots
Joachim Andersen to be booked
Pays 27/4
There is every chance Norway rack up three goals on their own, given they have found the net 65 times in 22 games, although they have gone eight matches without a clean sheet, so Denmark could have enough to bring up the tally, too.
Haaland and Odegaard are not the only stars in the Norway squad, with Antonio Nusa rating as much of a threat as his big-name teammates. The RB Leipzig forward enjoyed a solid World Cup and 19 shots in six 2026/27 appearances shows he has carried that form into the new campaign.
That talent-filled Norway attack is sure to keep Denmark’s backline busy, especially with the pace of Nusa and Haaland. That is not good news for Joachim Andersen, who is an excellent defender but not when running back towards his own goal.
Andersen was booked a team-high three times in World Cup qualifying and has already picked up one yellow card in three league appearances for Fulham this term.
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Key Match Stats
Norway have won 16 of their last 22 games
Denmark have managed just two wins in six matches
Both teams to score has been a winning bet in Norway’s last eight games
The Danes have scored in eight of their last nine matches
Erling Haaland has scored 62 goals in 55 appearances for Norway
Martin Odegaard has been directly involved in nine goals in his last 13 starts for club and country
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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.
