Australia World Cup preparations off to bad start in Norway
OSLO, Norway (AP) Bert van Marwijk's stint in charge of Australia got off to a bad start Friday as his side squandered a lead and lost 4-1 to Norway, a team that failed to qualify for the World Cup.
Van Marwijk, who was appointed coach in January specifically for the tournament in Russia, was hopeful when his team took a 19th-minute lead through midfielder Jackson Irvine.
But Los Angeles Galaxy forward Ola Kamara claimed the first goal of his hat trick a quarter of an hour later, before Tore Reginiussen put the home side ahead early in the second half. Kamara grabbed his second then completed the scoring in injury time.
Norway finished ahead of only Azerbaijan and minnow San Marino in European qualifying group C, while Australia qualified with an intercontinental playoff win over Honduras under Ange Postecoglou.
Postecoglou quit shortly afterward, and Dutch coach Van Marwijk was appointed two months later. Graham Arnold is set to take over after the World Cup.
