According to Norwegian sports medicine researcher Torstein Lorentsen-Dalen, research indicates that there is around a four percent greater probability of winning per degree of difference in temperature between the teams' accustomed climates. This means hypothetically that if Senegal, accustomed to 30 degrees, meets Norway, which is accustomed to 20 degrees, Senegal has a 40 percent greater chance of winning.
Norway "is down" by 0.6 goals before kick-off, he says.
To reduce the advantage for nations from warmer climates, World Cup teams such as Norway and Sweden are undertaking heat adaptation ahead of the World Cup. However, to achieve the full effect, teams need to be in the warmer climate for at least two weeks.
Norway will face Senegal in the World Cup on June 23.
