Schjelderup? Norwegian boss backs Benfica link at World Cup: I'd bet... | OneFootball

With the 2026 World Cup just around the corner, the debate in Norway is underway: who should play on the left wing for the national team, Andreas Schjelderup or Antonio Nusa. Opinion is divided, but coach Eirik Horneland backed the inclusion of Fredrik Aursnes - as highlighted by his father’s glowing reaction - and Benfica’s number 21 in the starting eleven, right in the opening match against Iraq.

"Nusa and Schjelderup will split the playing time at the World Cup. As a coach, I believe the focus should be on winning the first game and then we’ll see," commented the Norwegian, who managed Saint-Étienne, on the public broadcaster 'NRK' podcast 'Bakrommet'.

That way, Horneland had no doubts in stating: "I would go with the Schjelderup–Aursnes partnership, since they already know each other from Benfica. I would choose a reliable partnership from the start." The coach stresses that Nusa and Schjelderup "are different players". "Nusa is stronger one-on-one, while Schjelderup is more of a combination player," he concluded.

. The Benfica winger heads into the competition after a breakthrough season at the Lisbon club, securing his place in his first major international tournament.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇵🇹 here.