In advance, the possible removal of his son Markus Solbakken has received a lot of attention. The 23-year-old has made himself relevant with big plays in midfield for the form team Viking. The answer came on Tuesday: Solbakken has been selected for the national team. – First of all, I am very proud to have such an opportunity. It is probably the greatest thing you can experience as a Norwegian football player. First of all, I am very proud and happy about it, says Solbakken (23) to news. IN BATTLE: Solbakken has played big for Viking recently. Photo: Nikola Krstic / NTB – The withdrawal came as a bit of a shock to me. At the same time, I knew that my name was part of the discussion, but we have previously seen that in-form players in the Eliteserien can be taken out, he says to Stavanger Aftenblad. That it came as a shock was the boss’s plan. – Yes, I treat him like everyone else. We haven’t talked about this at all, says Ståle Solbakken to news. – Worst for him When news meets him after Viking training and the announcement of the national team squad, son Solbakken makes no secret of the fact that it will be a special situation. – Of course, a father-son relationship is special. We have to try to put it aside a bit, then he gets to be a football coach and I get to be a football player. I think we can do that, says Solbakken to news. – We are both professionals, so I don’t think that will be a problem. But of course it is special, there is nothing to hide. HIS FATHER’S SON: When young Solbakken met news, he did not hide the fact that he is in a special situation. Photo: news The father explains the withdrawal as follows: – It is because he is good enough right now. It hasn’t been the easiest and it’s probably the one we’ve debated the most – or I’ve debated the most, says Ståle Solbakken. – It is worst for him to deal with the fact that his father is a coach. But he has to endure that move. He believes that his son will take the withdrawal in stride, but humorously said that he thought it was worse for his mother. – I think it’s the mother that’s going around for now. She’s the one we had to take care of yesterday. She couldn’t sleep, so I had to tell yesterday. For me it’s easy. I wouldn’t have done it if I wasn’t sure, said Solbakken. This is Norway’s squad: Mathias Dyngeland – Brann Ørjan Nyland – Sevilla Egil Selvik – Haugesund Kristoffer Ajer – Brentford Fredrik Bjørkan – Bodø/Glimt Birger Meling – FC Copenhagen Stian Gregersen – Bordeaux Andreas Hanche-Olsen – Mainz Marcus Holmgren Pedersen – Sassuolo Julian Ryerson – Dortmund Stefan Strandberg – Vålerenga Leo Østigård – Napoli Fredrik Aursnes – Benfica Patrick Berg – Bodø/Glimt Sander Berge – Burnley Emil Breivik – Molde Antonio Nusa – Club Brugge Osame Sahraoui – Heerenveen Markus Solbakken – Viking Ola Solbakken – Roma Hugo Vetlesen – Club Brugge Martin Ødegaard – Arsenal Bård Finne – Brann Erling Braug Haaland – Manchester City Jørgen Strand Larsen – Celta Vigo Alexander Sørloth – Villarreal – Not an unproblematic selection news’s football expert Carl Erik Torp was clear ahead of the selection that he did not think Markus Solbakken would be included. Nevertheless, he believes that Ståle Solbakken answers well for him when he talks about the road there. – I announced harshly a little before here that I did not think he was going to be taken out. I don’t think he has had that level inside, says Torp. – But then we hear Solbakken gets a lot of questions about this and the challenges surrounding it. He answers very well and that there has been a thorough, thorough process around this here. Ståle Solbakken clarifies that it is not an unproblematic withdrawal, but that several in the team felt strongly that the son should be in the squad. FATHER AND SON: Coach Solbakken received many questions about player Solbakken after the draw. Photo: Emilie Holtet / NTB – I’m not saying it’s an unproblematic withdrawal, because it’s clear I’ll go an extra round or two or three before that. But there are others in the team who have been quite assertive that it should happen, says Solbakken. – I think you just go an extra round because there is a father-son relationship there. That you have to be extra safe and you have to be that with all players. Then he may have to be 1-2 percent better, in addition to the fact that you may go the extra round, says Solbakken to news. When asked if he has thought about pride as a father in this situation, Solbakken replies: – I haven’t thought about it that much. I may be ashamed of him too when the meeting is over. We have to take that then. Newcomers to the team The national team manager also found room for other surprises. Among them are Antonio Nusa who plays for Club Brugge and Osame Sahraoui, who has made an impressive start to his Heerenveen career. – Osame has made very good progress now in the Netherlands. Match-deciding actions in match after match. Some of what I saw him do at home on artificial grass in Vålerenga at his best, he has taken with him into some matches now, says Solbakken about Sahraoui. “NEW KID ON THE BLOCK”: Sahraoui was one of several new additions to the squad. Photo: NTB The 22-year-old was in the national team discussion last year as well, but the then Vålerenga player did not get the chance. At the time, Sahraoui said that he had not decided whether he wanted to represent Norway or Morocco at senior level, but now he can make his national team debut for Norway. Solbakken tells news that he has not spoken to Osame himself about the situation with choosing a country, and that it is possible that he will have to make that choice himself. Solbakken started the press conference in the humorous corner: Several were left out. Solbakken says that they actually took out two or three players too many in the squad so that you have cover if there is a decline in the squad, as they have experienced in the past. But he has also left out a couple of those who have had a place on the team in the past. Including Kristian Thorstvedt and Moi Elyounoussi. They spoke to Solbakken personally before the withdrawal. WAS SURPRISED: Elyounoussi was surprised when Solbakken called and said he was not in the squad. Photo: VEGARD WIVESTAD GRØTT / BILDBYRÅN – Of those who have been with us for a while, such as Moi, I had a conversation with him yesterday. The same with Kristian. I call those who have been with me for a long time. I am not calling everyone who is not involved, but those who may have thought that they have been part of this for a long time as a permanent member. I like to see them in the island and explain why, says Solbakken. – In short, I can say that Kristian agreed more than Moi. He reacted calmly, but he was surprised. Norway first has a private international match against Jordan on September 7 before Georgia awaits in an important European Championship qualifier five days later. This means that Solbakken will quickly rest many key players in the first match.
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Solbakken with several surprises – took out his son Markus (23) – news Sport – Sports news, results and broadcasting schedule
