Norway player Elabdellaouis COVID-19 positive test forces team into quarantine ahead of Austria tie

Norway’s star duo Erling Haaland and Martin Odegaard along with the entire men’s national football team has been sidelined from the Nation League finale to be conducted on Wednesday in Austria after a team-mate tested positive for COVID-19.

UEFA cancelled Norway’s match in Romania at the weekend after full-back Omar Elabdellaoui tested positive for COVID-19, restricting the squad from travelling to Bucharest.

The Norwegian authorities will name a squad of replacements for the side’s must win encounter at Vienna, and has forced each member of the original squad to self isolate and abide by coronavirus related guidelines.

The Norwegian football federation will name a new squad consisting of only overseas-based players after reaching an agreement with local health authorities.

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The Norwegian FA Secretary general Pal Bjerketvedt issued a statement on the issue saying, “Difficult choices had to be made but we’re happy now that the match can be played, as much as from a sporting point of view as in relation to our UEFA commitments and the competition in which we are participating.”

Norway currently occupies second place in the League B of Group 1 and has nine points from their four games. The Stefan Johansen-led side was supposed to play top side Austria in a clash for the top spot on Wednesday, but now a new squad will be named.