Six games, six wins, 29 goals for and only three against – and a three-point cushion over Italy: Norway are on the verge of making history in the FIFA World Cup 26™ qualifiers by sealing a return to the finals for the first time since 1998.
“It’s 25 years since we’ve been in a major tournament, so it’s about time,” said coach Stale Solbakken, who has masterminded his team’s march to the brink of qualification, which would end Norway’s unwanted record of missing out on 12 consecutive European Championships and World Cups. “We’re sick and tired of talking about that now.”
All the signs are pointing towards the Norwegians finally ushering in a golden age akin to the one that Solbakken himself enjoyed as a player in the late 1990s, but anyone who thinks that the modern-day Norway are only about two stars – Erling Haaland and Martin Odegaard – overlooks the real secret of their success, a system that supports the stars, and a group of players working hard to bring that system to life.
The team has a settled spine: Orjan Nyland in goal, Julian Ryerson, Kristoffer Ajer and David Moller Wolfe in defence, Sander Berge in midfield, and Haaland and Alexander Sorloth up front – all seven have started all six of Norway’s qualifiers so far. Torbjorn Heggem and Odegaard, on six and five appearances respectively, are almost ever-presents, while Antonio Nusa has been given the nod in four qualifiers so far.
Solbakken then tends to bring in players such as Morten Thorsby, Patrick Berg, Andreas Schjelderup, Oscar Bobb and Felix Horn Myhre depending on what his team needs – whether it is the ability to press higher up the pitch, to sit back more or to engage in more one-on-one duels.
Even beyond Haaland, Norway are not exactly short of firepower – Odegaard has seven assists to his name, Thelo Aasgaard has netted five times and Sorloth has scored three goals. All of this underlines the team’s philosophy – they do not rely on individual brilliance, but rather on established patterns and players who perform well in those patterns. No fewer than ten different players have found the back of the net in the current qualifying campaign.
The age structure is also notable, with no outfield player over the age of 30 featuring in recent squads. Only goalkeeper Nyland is over that magic number, and his age is more of an advantage than a disadvantage, with experience and composure in the penalty area always crucial for keepers.
This Norwegian squad is not lacking in experience either. Ryerson has been a fixture at Borussia Dortmund for several years and, at 27, is now one of Europe’s most consistent full-backs. His versatility also allows Solbakken to switch formations, such as to a back five with Ryerson operating as a wing-back.
Berge, 27, is also starring in the Premier League with Fulham, much like Jorgen Strand Larsen, 25, who has established himself at Wolverhampton Wanderers and was one of the most in-demand strikers in the transfer window earlier this year, only for Wolves to resist all of the significant offers tabled for his services.
Imposing central defender Ajer, also 27, is a rock at the back for Brentford, and Sorloth has experienced so much on his path to Atletico de Madrid that he is now an excellent strike partner for Haaland, both physically and tactically. At the age of just 29, he is also one of the veterans amongst the outfield players.
And then there is the next wave, a group of youngsters led by RB Leipzig’s 20-year-old Nusa, who offers pace, creativity and cutting edge. Aasgaard, 23, plays for Scottish giants Rangers and is making a name for himself with his ability to ghost forward from deep and get strikes away.
Wolves left-back Moller Wolfe, also 23, is blessed with a great engine and the ability to time runs to perfection. Bobb, one year Moller Wolfe’s junior, is also shining at Manchester City and is no longer regarded as a bench player, but rather as a difference-maker who can find solutions in the tightest of spaces.
Solbakken has built a group of hungry players who are sparkling in the beam of Haaland’s brilliance. The Manchester City striker is not only one of the most prolific goalscorers in the world, but also one of the most ambitious. He is a larger-than-life character in the dressing room, and his mere presence on the pitch inevitably leaves room for his team-mates to exploit.
Of course, no analysis of Norway would be complete without a glance at Haaland’s incredible stats: 51 goals in 46 internationals, amounting to around 1.11 goals per game. In the current qualifying campaign, he has struck 12 times in six matches at a rate of 2.0 goals per game. He is clearly an outstanding finisher, but Norway are far from a one-man show, with Solbakken’s system creating chances for their goalscoring giant while also posing no little threat from other areas.
“[SM1] Offensively, we have players with some X factor now,” says Solbakken. “We feel we can always score a goal. As a team, we have become much more solid defensively as well. We have a better mix. The feeling (in the squad) has always been good, but there’s an extra edge to it now that we have done so well.”
The success of any national team makes every player look better, but with such team spirit, belief and squad depth, it’s small wonder that Norway are now a force to be reckoned with.
