Norway Open With Authority as Iraq Are Overwhelmed in Boston

Norway announced themselves in this tournament with a performance of clarity and purpose, dispatching Iraq 4-1 at Gillette Stadium in their opening Group Stage fixture. From the early exchanges, the Scandinavians dictated terms, moving the ball with patience before stretching their opponents at every opportunity. By the closing stages, the margin felt a fair reflection of the gulf between the two sides.

Iraq, for their part, were not without ambition. They pressed in spells and found brief encouragement when they pulled a goal back, a moment that briefly lifted their travelling support inside the Boston arena. But the response only seemed to sharpen Norway's resolve, and the equilibrium Iraq sought never materialised. Defensive lapses proved costly, and each Norwegian advance carried a threat their backline struggled to contain.

Norway's four goals came as the product of sustained pressure rather than fortune, the attacking play growing in confidence as the contest wore on. The midfield won the territorial battle comfortably, supplying a forward line that asked questions Iraq could not answer. It was the kind of opening statement a side harbouring genuine ambitions in this competition will have wanted to make.

For Iraq, the work begins now, with lessons to absorb before their next assignment. Norway, meanwhile, leave Boston with maximum points and a measure of momentum, having served notice that they intend to be taken seriously as the group unfolds.