As we head into the international break, Norway are optimistic. They haven’t been to a World Cup since the 1998, and haven’t had this much confidence in a side since a halcyon period in their footballing history where they performed well in 1938 and at the 1936 Olympics, where they beat hosts Germany. But they are beginning to believe that maybe, just maybe, this is their time. A win against Latvia, and a draw against the Netherlands, should see them into the playoffs for World Cup Qualifying. A slip up by Turkey will make that easier. And the playoffs are a lottery. Unlucky and they will have to get past Portugal or Spain. But if the draw goes their way they might end up with a much simpler proposition – Finland, or Ukraine, or Scotland. And with this group of players, nothing is impossible.
Not that those four points will be easy to collect. The Lions are missing some very important players. Goalkeeper Rune Jarstein has been missing since being diagnosed with a heart condition earlier in the year. Brentford’s Kristoffer Ajer picked up a hamstring injury just before the international break. And of course Erling Haaland, the talisman of this golden generation, whose hip injury will keep him out until some time in 2022. But even with those players missing, there is genuine optimism in what is traditionally Scandinavia’s weakest nation.
As we know, these Golden Generations don’t just magically appear on the scene. Belgium’s was being feted as early as 2003, when the biggest clubs moved to partner with local schools, and youth development was revolutionised across the country. England’s own young group of players can’t be separated from Trevor Brooking’s radical calls for change following failure to qualify for Euro 2008. And Norway’s promising future comes courtesy of the Norges Fotballforbund (NFF). The NFF was tasked with finding and developing Norway’s most talented youngsters, and its current head Hakon Grottland recalls the “pleasure of discovering” an 11 year old Martin Odegaard, when he was working his way up the organisation.
Outside of the superstars, there is an undercurrent of talent being developed by the NFF that signals a bright future for the Norway national team. Grottland would prefer that more of the talent stays in the Eliteserien longer, dominating their home league before their lucrative moves abroad, and that means that not as many of the players leap off the page as did Belgium’s youngsters in the 2000s. But they are there.
Rune Jarstein is nearly 40, but behind him Kristoffer Klaesson became one of the Eliteserien’s youngest goalkeepers when he went between the sticks for Valerenga at just 18. The pandemic has stalled his international development, and he still plays for the Under 21s, but he has the talent. Or at least Marcelo Bielsa, famous improver of players, seems to think so, having signed Klaesson in the summer.
Ahead of him, Leo Ostigard is making himself known around the Potteries. On loan at Stoke from Brighton, he is putting in a succession of noteworthy performances, and was included in the most recent Championship Team of the Week. Or, as one fan put it, “Leo Ostigard is a fucking Norwegian brick shithouse”. So when the more cultured Ajer is fit, they should work together quite nicely.
Midfield is where Norway are really shining at the moment. It’s not surprising, with Grottland identifying as a problem the fact that every Norwegian is trained as a central midfielder. But the future here is very exciting. Odegaard is the real star, while Sander Berge of Sheffield United was considered a coup when he signed for the Yorkshire side. Jens Petter Hauge is a tricky winger on the books of Milan, getting some playing experience in the Bundesliga on loan. Kristoffer Askildsen is racking up the minutes for Sampdoria, while Martin Palumbo is being developed at Juventus. FC Nordsjaelland’s Andreas Schjelderup may be the brightest star of the lot: at only 17 he was part of Bodo/Glimt’s first title in their 104 year history, and then he turned down a glamourous, profitable move to any number of Europe’s elite clubs, where his opportunities would have been limited, to join the FCN talent factory in Denmark. He’s skilful, confident, can spot a pass and doesn’t shy away from taking on a defender. If he can add a few more goals to his game, Haaland might not be the only megastar to play for The Lions in a few years time.
What all of these players have in common is youth. Ajer, at 23, is the oldest in the group, while Schjederup only turned 17 in the summer. Time is on their side, and that is an exciting prospect among the fjords and the snow in Norway.
Stale Solbakken’s men are so close to a moment of history they can almost touch it. Solbakken understands what this could mean, having overseen Iceland’s triumphs just a few years ago. Four points is achievable, even when a resurgent Netherlands are thrown into the mix, and the playoffs might just work out in their favour. But even if they don’t, even if Norway don’t end their 23 year wait for a World Cup appearance this time (and there is pressure within Norway to boycott the competition anyway), they are only going to improve. “There is progression and a lot to build on” says Solbakken when asked about Norway’s future. “It is an exciting group of players”.
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