Norwegians fear Giggs onslaught

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer knows what Giggs is capable of

Norway's Manchester United superstars are steeling themselves for a World Cup showdown with Ryan Giggs, the team-mate they believe is one of the best players on the planet.

The Norwegians have set up camp on the outskirts of Cardiff ready for Saturday's World Cup qualifier against Wales at what is expected to be a packed Millennium Stadium.

But the trio of Henning Berg, Ronny Johnsen and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer know that their peace will soon be shattered by a confrontation with Giggs in full flow.

The dressing room banter at Old Trafford has left the Norwegians in no doubt that Giggs can't wait to get at his United team-mates for real.

I've told my Norwegian team-mates what I know about him, that he is one of the best players in the world, if not the best

  Ole Gunnar Solskjaer

Solskjaer

Solskjaer reacts with a nervous, almost fearful smile when Giggs is mentioned. And he has mentioned a lot to any Norwegian who ventures out in south Wales at the moment!

The super sub goal-scoring hero of United said:

"Facing Ryan will be hard. I've told my Norwegian team-mates what I know about him, that he is one of the best players in the world, if not the best.

"He will be a great danger to us, we all know that. There's been a lot of banter between us all at United in the build-up to this match.

"Ryan has warned us what to expect and how fantastic the stadium is in Cardiff and the atmosphere the Welsh fans will create.

"We have been trying to wind up Ryan, but he's had a few things to say as well."

Up until now I have only ever faced him in training, and that was hard enough

  Ronny Johnsen

Johnsen

Johnsen is equally concerned. He said:

"We train with Ryan, we all know how good he is. We don't know whether he's playing on the wing or down the middle yet, but wherever he plays he will be a big problem for us."

Berg, currently out on loan to Blackburn, joins in the chorus of respect for a player whose sheer presence has dominated Welsh and Manchester United soccer for a decade.

Berg said: "We know that when Wales have their best players they are a very good team and can beat anyone.

"We are aware that Ryan might play down the middle, and I know that means against me. Up until now I have only ever faced him in training, and that was hard enough.

"He knows me and I know all about him, but that won't make it any easier."

Hartson

And if Giggs isn't a big enough problem, central defender Berg also knows that a fit John Hartson is out to get him too!

Added Berg: "Hartson is a very good player, he's got his form back and scoring goals. He seems happier now with the way he's playing and in himself.

"He's good in the air, and very strong as well as being a good finisher. He's different than Giggs with different skills, he has pace and he can shoot."

We regard Wales as a real danger. They have a lot of quality players and they are in a position where they could beat any of the teams in the group

  Norway's coach Nils Johan Semb

Norway coach

Norway's coach Nils Johan Semb knows that his side, the top seeds and favourites to win the group, have to recover quickly from that embarrassing home draw against a 10-man Armenia last month.

He said: "You are always under pressure as an international manager, and the fact that we could only draw 0-0 at home to Armenia in our first qualifier just makes this game with Wales that bit more critical for us.

"But there are a lot of games still to play, and you mustn't forget that we lost our first qualifier for the European Championship, but won eight of the next nine, drawing the other, to top our group.

"But we regard Wales as a real danger. They have a lot of quality players and they are in a position where they could beat any of the teams in the group.

"It's a very open group and I think probably the hardest group of them all, it will be very close.

"Ryan Giggs is their star, but they do have a lot of good players, not just him."