I asked Ståle at the press conference in Linz today if he felt the last two results were the result of good performances over time, or if there were some special buttons they have pressed. The answer was not to be misunderstood. Some individuals have stood out due to a better everyday life in their clubs, but he and the national team have worked with the same principles over time. The rise in the last two games came in the count’s time. Many supporters of the Norwegian national team had tried to turn on the warning lights for quite some time already. After the disappointing draw in Kazakhstan, they started to shine. – So brutal is top football Austria at Ullevaal became a kind of early battle of fate for Ståle Solbakken and the Norwegian national team. That’s how brutal top football is, perhaps especially national team football with so few games to do it in. At the same time, the Austria match was a golden opportunity. A nation that recently charmed the whole of football Europe with its delicious, offensive style of play in this summer’s European Championship, was like a potential scalp to be reckoned with. A good performance and victory here could be a turning point. It succeeds. We waited half an eternity for the long VAR check before Haaland could finally throw his arms in the air and cheer for his match-winning goal. LOOKING GOOD: Norway has begun to pay off for its playing advantage. Photo: Terje Pedersen / NTB That the Norwegian boys were able to hold on and avoid the almost formulaic late goal at the end was also an enormously important confirmation. We can do it, we have the qualities, especially at Ullevaal, also against supposedly better nations. Calm descended on this gathering. Victory against Austria, then the weak performance in Kazakhstan was forgotten. – Succeeded perfectly Thursday’s match against Slovenia was brilliant. A slightly surprising team selection, especially with the completely new midfield constellation and Ryerson in a kind of inside runner role, succeeds perfectly. The best international match in a long time, many say. Full control from start to finish, except for a short period where Ørjan Håskjold Nyland stood out with some important saves to avoid an equaliser. But was this really a coincidence, or was it the international Ståle Solbakken and the rest of the Norwegian team have just been waiting for to come? Was this match, as well as the Austria match, relatively similar to some of the ones we have seen in recent years, except that the efficiency was better, and that Nyland stood up when we needed it? WAS UNDER PRESSURE: But now fewer are clamoring for Solbakken’s departure. Photo: Fredrik Varfjell / NTB We have, to the point of boredom, repeated how unlucky this team was in the EC qualification, that it is the team Ståle Solbakken has coached that has had the most success. Most of the statistics that have supported this have been brought forward, but many people have been more or less provoked by Solbakken rather than gaining more faith in “project Solbakken” from this. – It has to turn around. It’s outward. Inside, however, it seems that they have been strong in their faith all along. They have played the games, they have seen the analyses, they have felt the famous margins against on their bodies. It must turn around, right? In terms of play, Norway has been the dominant team in the vast majority of international matches since the start of the previous EC qualifiers. I have watched all the matches since then, and have struggled to disagree with what Solbakken has said. Norway has generally, with a few exceptions, clearly created more scoring chances than its opponent. Simply given himself greater opportunities to win the match than his opponent, to put it very simply. Those are the facts, whether you like it or not. Hard facts are also, unfortunately for Ståle and co., that results trump everything when it comes to national team football. With so few games to do so, three, one or zero points from time to time will matter more than for a club team. The people have therefore called for changes. Some have advocated that it must be laced again with five at the back. In any case, we have to play with two strikers, and “more directly” has been the theme of the review. – Huge dilemma But here Ståle and the rest of the team have had their huge dilemma. Why should you change something that in the vast majority of matches has given you the greatest opportunity to win? At the same time, when you don’t win, what do you do to tip the famous margins in your favor? NEW MATCH SUNDAY: Erling Braut Haaland, Sander Berge and the other players here during a training session at Raiffeisen Arena Linz before the match between Austria and Norway. Photo: Fredrik Varfjell / NTB With Haaland and Sørloth on top, and visible a few more passes directly up to the two, starting with the home game against Austria, many are probably thinking: “What did we say?”. Finally there were some moves the people have been clamoring for! Does this mean that public opinion has been proved right and Ståle has finally come to his senses? No, it’s probably not that simple. I see a Norwegian team that is still clearly building on the principles they have had all along, but has taken a step when it comes to varying their game. Fasit, as you know, is neither the long pass, nor the short pass, but making use of the right pass at the right time. “What did I say?” Here they have done better, and have perhaps had some good discussions about prioritizing elections? Some small adjustments in terms of formation have also brought out the “Godfoot” for several of the Norwegian players. There has not been a revolution, but rather a positive and much-needed evolution. Add to that the fact that the Norwegian team has only conceded one goal in the last three games, and it will of course give a large dose of self-confidence, especially to the part of the team that has had to endure the most criticism during Ståle Solbakken’s period as national team manager; the defence. Have they done anything particularly different? No, four at the back and a firm belief that zone defense is the key to success. Perhaps it is Ståle who can finally stand up and say “What did I say?”. Published 12.10.2024, at 16.19 Updated 12.10.2024, at 17.17
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Løkberg believes many have been provoked by what Solbakken said – news Sport – Sports news, results and broadcast schedule
