Without any unnecessary substitutions Age Hareide has announced the Norway squad for the crucial 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany Playoff against the Czech Republic. The Norwegian coach told reporters that he did not wish to make any serious changes to the squad, especially a few months before the tournament kicks off.

The Norway squad is the same as the one called up for the Qualifiers against Moldova and Belarus, with the only difference of the addition of Odd Grenland goalkeeper Rune Jarstein. Jarstein is not expected to be in the 11-player team and was only called up after Charlton's goalkeeper Thomas Myhre received an injury.

Hareide acknowledged to journalists that his team are not the favourites to qualify for next summer's tournament.

Norway Squad:

Goalkeepers: Rune Jarstein (Odd Grenland), Espen Johnsen (Rosenborg Trondheim), Thomas Myhre (Charlton Athletic).

Defenders: Andre Bergdolmo (FC Copenhagen), Bard Borgersen (Start), Erik Hagen (Zenit St. Petersburg), Brede Hangeland (Viking), Jon Inge Hoiland (Malmo), Marius Johnsen (Start), Claus Lundekvam (Southampton)

Midfielders: Christian Grindheim (Valerenga), Kristofer Haestad (Start), Morten Gamst Pedersen (Blackburn Rovers), John Arne Riise (Liverpool), Jan Gunnar Solli (Rosenborg Trondheim), Fredrik Stromstad (Start)

Strikers: Daniel Braaten (Rosenborg Trondheim), John Carew (Olympique Lyon), Thorstein Helstad (Rosenborg Trondheim), Steffen Iversen (Valerenga), Sigurd Rushfeldt (Austria Vienna), Alex Valencia (Start), Ole Martin Aarst (Tromso).

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