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Updated Saturday May 27, 2000
Injury-hit Norway face Slovakia

OSLO, May 26 (Reuters) - A Norwegian soccer team depleted by injuries will face Slovakia on Saturday for a final test before coach Nils Johan Semb names his squad for Euro 2000.

Semb has called back veteran defender Dan Eggen of Spain's Alaves for a first time since the 1998 World Cup to help fill the injury gaps. But Rosenborg Trondheim midfielder Orjan Berg, also a surprise inclusion in the squad to play Slovakia, hurt his knee on Tuesday and is out in a new setback for Semb, who will decide his 22-man Euro 2000 squad early next week.

Norway have lost a string of key players including Ronny Johnsen of Manchester United and Oyvind Leonhardsen of Tottenham due to injuries.

Norway will probably be seeking a confidence-building win against Slovakia, who are not taking part in Euro 2000, after losing their last two games at home, to Belgium and to Germany.

Before that, they were undefeated since August 1998. Slovakia drew 1-1 against Saudi Arabia on Wednesday when Slovakia's Kozuch scored, but have only scored in two of their last eight games.

Norway play Italy for a final warm-up on June 3 before facing Spain, Yugoslavia and Slovenia in Euro 2000.

Semb has fewest worries in attack, where both Tore Andre Flo of Chelsea, last weekend's English FA Cup winners, and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer of Manchester United are fit.

"Solskjaer is a very good finisher... There he's best," Flo said of his rival after Norway's top-selling daily Verdens Gang recommended on Thursday that Solskjaer should play as the main striker rather than Flo. Flo is usually Semb's first choice.

Norway (from) - Morten Bakke, Thomas Myhre, Frode Olsen, Trond Andersen, Henning Berg, Andre Bergdolmo, Bjorn Otto Bragstad, Dan Eggen, Vegard Heggem, Vidar Riseth; Eirik Bakke, John Carew, Tore Andre Flo, Steffen Iversen, Andreas Lund, Erik Mykland, Kjetil Rekdal, John Arne Riise, Bent Skammelsrud, Stale Solbakken, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Roar Strand.

Referee - Sten Johanzon (Sweden)

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