Hangeland avoiding predictions

Egil Olsen's side opens its qualifying campaign on Friday evening (Saturday morning AEST) away against Iceland in a group that also features Albania, Cyprus, Slovenia and Switzerland.

The latter pair in particular will fancy their chances of making it through to the finals but Hangeland does not want to start making predictions.

However, the Fulham defender is sure that if Norway plays to its potential, it is good enough to emerge from the group and compete in what would be its first major tournament for 14 years.

Asked about who the favourites are in Group E, Hangeland told fotball.no: "Switzerland has been mentioned, but I find it difficult to answer.

"We might have trouble naming many of the Slovenian players, but they probably have a very good team. All matches will be difficult.

"This is a very even group. We should be happy that we avoided the top nations, but there are no easy opponents in the pot.

"It is not impossible - if we play at our best, we are good enough. We need to focus."

Hangeland expects a testing assignment for the team in Reykjavik.

"The most important thing for us in this qualification campaign is that we have maximum winning mentality, which will be very important in the first match against Iceland," Hangeland said.

"It will be a very tough game, a game for men."

After the Iceland game, Norway faces Slovenia at home on Tuesday and then both Switzerland and Cyprus away in a double-header in October.

Speaking about his hopes and expectations for his side, head coach Olsen said: "It's a tough opening for us, and six points can be good, although it depends on how we get them.

"A win against Slovenia and drawing the other three games would be a good start, but if we lose against Slovenia, that is not good.

"The most important thing is what we do at home. We will be in trouble if we give away too many points at the Ullevaal Stadion."

Tomorrow's other Group E games see Slovenia host Switzerland and Albania entertain Cyprus.