Norway vs Switzerland prediction 31.03.2026 | Friendly International

The Lions finally ended that long wait for a World Cup appearance, and they did it convincingly. Eight wins from eight in qualifying, 37 goals scored, just five conceded.

That kind of record does not happen by accident. Still, Ståle Solbakken’s side first outing after that run felt a bit flat. A 2-1 loss to the Netherlands, despite leading early through Andreas Schjelderup, showed that momentum can slip quickly.

At home, though, the picture looks different. Eight wins from the last nine in Oslo is a strong base to build on. Erling Haaland should return after being rested for workload reasons, which immediately changes the attacking threat.

You can almost picture the difference when he’s leading the line. Martin Ødegaard, however, remains uncertain with that knee issue. Without him, creativity sometimes feels a bit rushed, like the final pass comes half a second too late.

The Red Crosses also came into the international break with a quiet sort of confidence, the kind you earn by topping a group unbeaten. It may not grab headlines, but it usually points to a side that knows what it’s doing.

Murat Yakin’s team tends to stay organised and disciplined, even if the style is not always exciting. Still, that 4-3 loss to Germany hangs in the air a little, because scoring three feels good, yet conceding four raises fair concerns.

Away form adds another layer of doubt. Two successive draws on the road suggest things are not entirely settled just yet.

Granit Xhaka keeps things ticking in midfield, while Manuel Akanji anchors the back line, though he looked stretched at times recently.

There is quality, no question. However, against the Lions, small mistakes could quickly become costly.