Starting 2025 as they ended 2024, Norway concluded the last calendar year with a 5-0 thumping of Kazakhstan in their closing UEFA Nations League battle, and Stale Solbakken's men subjected Moldova to an identical mauling in Chisinau over the weekend.

There was of course the customary goal for Erling Haaland - his 39th in just 40 appearances for his nation - but the strikes were shared around the Norway team, as Julian Ryerson, Alexander Sorloth, Aron Donnum and Thelo Aasgaard also made the net bulge.

The embryonic rankings therefore make for highly pleasant reading for fans of the world's 43rd-ranked nation, who currently occupy top spot in Group I, although there are currently only four spots filled in the five-team section.

Italy will soon enter the fray after losing their UEFA Nations League quarter-final against Germany, but Norway will undoubtedly still be favourites to clinch second place, which will earn them another shot at qualification via the playoffs.

The Nordic nation have not appeared at a World Cup Finals since 1998 and last made a major tournament at Euro 2000, but with Haaland and Martin Odegaard spearheading the charge, Solbakken's men - who also won promotion to League A of the Nations League for 2026-27 - will surely end that exile soon enough.

One would not typically expect there to be a North London feel to Israel vs. Estonia, but a former Tottenham Hotspur man and current Arsenal shot-stopper both had their moments in the spotlight in Saturday's showdown, albeit for different reasons.

Indeed, one-time Spurs defender Maksim Paskotsi struck the opener for Estonia before their number one - Gunners goalkeeper Karl Hein - levelled matters with an own goal, which preceded the telling contribution from Eli Dasa 15 minutes from time.

As a result, Ran Ben Shimon's side currently reside in the playoff spot in Group I, and they should not be fazed by the prospect of facing either Germany or Italy in the coming months, having beaten Belgium and held France to a goalless draw in November's Nations League matches.

However, while conflict continues to rage between Israel and Hamas, the world's 76th-ranked nation - whose last appearance at a World Cup Finals came all the way back in 1970 - will be playing all of their 'home' matches at neutral venues for the foreseeable future.

The Chosen Team have already clashed with Norway twice in their home country, prevailing 2-1 in their inaugural battle in a 1972 friendly, but the most recent encounter - another exhibition encounter in 1999 - saw the Scandinavians come up trumps by a goal to nil.

Israel possible starting lineup:

Peretz; Dasa, Nachmias, Shlomo, Revivo; Jaber, Abu Fani; Biton, Gloukh, Solomon; David

Norway possible starting lineup:

Nyland; Ryerson, Heggem, Ajer, Donnum; Odegaard, Berge, Aasgaard; Sorloth, Haaland, Schjelderup