The United hitman, playing behind a front two of Tottenham striker Steffen Iversen and Chelsea hitman Tore Andre Flo, hit the bar with a looping header off Andre Bergdolmo's whipped cross.

But Spain also hit the woodwork with Joseba Etxeberria's rising 25-yard shot stinging the bar, while Raul - back in action for the first time since scoring in the Champions League final for Real Madrid - spurned several opportunities as he looked to shake off the after-effects of a thigh injury.

Norway called on no fewer than seven stars from England's top flight, although Everton keeper Thomas Myhre has most recently been playing his club football in Division One with Birmingham.

Liverpool full-back Vegard Heggem, Manchester United duo Henning Berg and Solskjaer, Leeds midfielder Eirik Bakke, Tottenham striker Iversen and Chelsea hitman Flo completed the Premier League's involvement.

But it was a Norwegian unfamiliar on these shores, Erik Mykland, who threatened first when his wayward volley sailed over top of the Spanish goal.

Spain keeper Francisco Molina rushed out of his area to head clear with Flo closing in on goal moments later, but the Spanish soon began to recover their nerves.

Etxeberria ran from deep before lashing a rising 25-yard shot against the crossbar with Myhre beaten by the ferocity of the shot.

And Raul shook off close attentions of two Norwegian defenders on the edge of the box only to see his deflected shot loop high over the bar.

Etxeberria was the first name into Egyptian referee Gamal El Ghandour's notebook after 17 minutes for a clumsy challenge on Bent Skammelsrud.

And Norway were next to hit the woodwork when Andre Bergdolmo's cross from the left was headed against the bar by Solskjaer.

But despite that close shave, Norway were finding themselves hard-pushed to match the fluid movement and passing of Spain.

Flo, partnering Iversen in attack with Solskjaer playing behind the front two, was penalised for tangling with Fernando Hierro in the box, but the Chelsea forward's height and strength was clearly unsettling the Spaniards.

Michel Salgado's inswinging cross from deep on the right was met by a towering header from Ismael Urzaiz, but Myhre dived low to his right to scoop the ball away.

Flo was penalised again for leaning on defender Paco Jemez as Norway looked to route one in answer to Spain's patient build-up play.

Spain then had to deal with two successive inswinging crosses from Bent Skammelsrud on the right, the second of which Molina plucked out of the air, as Norway upped the tempo.

Flo then broke free to bare down on the Spanish box but saw his shot sliced high and wide as two opposition defenders closed in.

And Raul was guilty of a lame finish when he let fly from the edge of the area seconds later.

He went much closer four minutes from half-time as Norway's defenders appealed for offside, but dragged his shot wide of the far post with Myhre beaten.

Two minutes later the Madrid star was pulled up for a close-looking offside call, tucking the ball home moments after the referee had blown his whistle.

Norway hit back with a Premiership one-two-three; Iversen released Heggem down the right and Solskjaer eluded his marker only to mis-time his shot on the turn, meaning it remained goalless at the interval.