We're out! Reality dawns upon keeper Thomas Myhre (GaryMPrior/Allsport)

Nils Johan Semb's side thought they had booked their place in the last eight and a clash on Sunday against either World Cup winners France or co-hosts Holland after playing out a nerve-jangling goalless draw with Slovenia.

With Spain still down 3-2 to Yugoslavia as the final whistle blew in Arnhem, the Norwegians looked assured of second place in Group C behind the Yugoslavs.

But incredibly tournament favourites Spain then struck twice in stoppage time to win 4-3.

That meant Jose Antonio Camacho's side now topped the group but disastrously it also dropped the Norwegians down into third by virtue of their reverse against Yugoslavia.

For rank outsiders Slovenia it meant they propped up the group but they can look back on their first major tournament with great pride and Srecko's Katanec's side will not be underestimated again on the international stage.

Norway coach Nils Johan Semb was able to welcome back Steffen Iversen, goal-hero for them against Spain, the Spurs striker having recovered from the broken nose he sustained in the 1-0 loss against Yugoslavia on Sunday.

Slovenia, needing a win before kick-off to stand any chance of qualifying for the quarter-finals, were quickly on the offensive with playmaker Zlatko Zahovic the creative force.

But they suffered a blow in the 10th minute when midfielder Miran Pavlin was stretchered off after a clash of heads.

Norway defeated Slovenia 4-0 and 2-1 in their qualifying group for Euro 2000 and knew a win would definitely see them into the last eight regardless of what happened in the other tie, but they were finding it tough in the early stages.

Slovenia were able to welcome back Pavlin after 18 minutes and they needed his presence in midfield as the Norwegians came into the game strongly after a sluggish start.

Norway forced four corners in quick succession but despite the aerial threat of Chelsea striker Tore Andre Flo they were unable to make their dominance count.

Erik Mykland then became the first player to go into referee Graham Poll's notebook as tempers flared in midfield which meant the Panathinaikos dynamo would miss the quarter-final tie should Norway go through.

It was then Norway's turn to lose a man with Flo forced to leave the field winded after taking a blow to the midriff.

A fit-again Flo returned to the field, but Slovenia then almost opened the scoring in the 34th minute when Pavlin let fly with his left foot from 25 yards and his swerving effort had Norwegian and Everton keeper Thomas Myhre beaten but went just the wrong side of the post.

Norway hit back immediately with a cleverly-worked free-kick that resulted in Iversen volleying narrowly wide from 20 yards with Mladen Dabanovic beaten in the Slovenia goal.

Another corner for the Norwegians followed but again Bjornbye's left-foot curler was cleared unceremoniously by the Slovenian rear-guard.

Pavlin then became the second player to have his name taken by Poll after bodychecking John Carew, which meant he would be ineligible for his side should they reach the last eight.

Norway were immediately on the offensive after the restart, and Manchester United's Ole Gunnar Solskjaer fired wide from 10 yards after reacting quickest to a knockdown from Flo.

But play soon swung to the other end, and the Norwegians were relieved to clear after Zahovic's in-swinging corner resulted in a massive goalmouth scramble.

Solskjaer then squandered another good opportunity when Carew's lay-off found him unmarked from eight yards but he spooned his effort wide.

Slovenia then thought they had taken the lead through Ermin Siljak, but Tring official Poll had already blown up for a foul by the forward on Bjornebye.

The underdogs went close again when Mladen Rudonja latched on to a poor clearance from Myhre, but the Everton goalkeeper redeemed himself by saving low to his left.

Solskjaer, having far from the best of games, then let his frustrations get the better of him and was cautioned for a crude challenge on Ales Ceh.

With the scoreline in the other Group C match between Spain and Yugoslavia still level, Norway knew a draw would be good enough to secure their last-eight place.

Leeds' Eirik Bakke was introduced in the 61st minute for the more attack-minded Carew as Norway strengthened their midfield.

Slovenia were becoming increasingly desperate at their inability to break down Norway, and Ceh ballooned over when trying his luck from 35 yards.

Siljak almost gave Slovenia the goal they craved in the 72nd minute when Zahovic's clever reverse pass looked to have put him in just six yards out but Andre Bergdolmo's superb last-ditch tackle took the ball off his toe with the goal gaping.

With news filtering through that Yugoslavia had gone 3-2 ahead against Spain it meant Norway were definitely through should the game end in a draw and the massed Norwegian contingent began to party.

But Slovenia also knew that a goal and three points for them would see them oust Norway and join the Yugoslavs in qualifying.

Tempers flared in a desperate finale with Katanec's side looking for the goal that would take them through.

But Norway, content to defend deeply, held firm and left the field to great applause believing they had gone through with Spain still behind in injury time and needing to score twice to qualify for the quarter-finals.

Spain then achieved the impossible and with the most disastrous of consequences for the Norwegians.