Norway, a nation of 5.6 million, boasts an impressive array of competitive accomplishments. Its winter athletes consistently dominate the medal tally, the women’s handball team excels on the international stage, and the nation has produced athletic stars like the Ingebrigtsen brothers. Additionally, Norway has seen two PGA Tour champions this season and is home to the greatest chess player of all time. Yet, nothing captivates the nation quite like football, with the 2-1 victory over Brazil in the final group match of the 1998 World Cup standing out as a defining moment.
The phrase from commentator Arne Scheie, “Vi har scoret i Marseille!” (We have scored in Marseille!), resonates with Norwegians as deeply as the words of poets and politicians over the years. Known for his calm demeanor and factual precision, Scheie lost his composure when Norway was awarded a late penalty at a 1-1 tie. He mistakenly referred to the penalty taker, Kjetil Rekdal, as “Kjetil Reknett, of Werder Bremen” a name that does not exist in any language.
In a moment of high tension, Scheie declared that the upcoming penalty would be, “the most important kick of a ball in the history of the Norwegian football federation” Although it sounded peculiar, in that moment of uncharacteristic emotion, he successfully captured the gravity of the situation. Rekdal scored, leading to an outpouring of joy across Norway, marking a moment when football transcended mere sport and became a force for national unity.
Numerous documentaries, books, and even operas have chronicled the victory against Brazil. However, little is mentioned of the subsequent match, where Norway suffered a disappointing 1-0 defeat to Italy in the Round of 16. This golden generation of Norwegian footballers qualified for two World Cups, reached the second spot in FIFA rankings, and triumphed over teams like England, Italy, the Netherlands, and Brazil, yet they never secured a knockout win in a major tournament. This led to a sense of regret as they exited both the 1994 and 1998 World Cups without fulfilling their potential. The current squad is well aware of this backdrop, with three players having fathers who participated in the ’94 World Cup. Their manager, Ståle Solbakken, intimately understands this history, having played part of that fateful match against Italy. In a Netflix documentary released prior to this summer’s tournament, he reflected, ‘94. The current manager, Ståle Solbakken, knows it intimately. He played just over an hour in that defeat to Italy. “Historically in tournaments, Norway have played well in qualifying and then performed worse at the World Cup,” Solbakken mused in a Netflix documentary released before this summer’
This historical context is crucial, as outsiders may perceive this Norwegian squad as merely a collection of elite talent from top European clubs. Many might have anticipated that Norway would easily defeat Senegal and Côte d’Ivoire based on their star-studded roster. The sight of Norwegian fans making waves in America with the “Now we have to see if we can raise our game” has been a joyful spectacle, yet the players carry the weight of their predecessors’ histories—28 years without qualifying for a tournament and the realization that even the beloved team from the ’90s faltered in World Cups. This backdrop fueled a passionate Solbakken to exclaim after the victory against Senegal, “Shut up boys! This is the greatest Norwegian football win of all time, and you can quote me on that.”
After triumphing over Côte d’Ivoire, he conveyed to his team, “you are changing not only Norwegian football history, but Norwegian history in general. This is so big. This will never happen again, because we are going to qualify time and time again. Which means these 28 years of hurt, everything that is felt around the country, what I feel right here, what you feel, it will never come back.” Norway’s win against Côte d’Ivoire in the Round of 32 was not just a solid team effort overcoming a capable opponent; it represented the first time a Norwegian team truly lived up to its expectations at a World Cup.
Norway’s squad benefits from having genuine superstars. Erling Haaland, a global sensation, has achieved everything at the club level, while Martin Ødegaard serves as a Premier League-winning captain. They embody contrasting styles of leadership: the articulate and thoughtful Ødegaard alongside the fierce ambition and drive of Haaland. Each sets high standards for the team. However, the victory over Côte d’Ivoire was a collective effort, with Patrick Berg, who made a comeback after losing his starting position before the tournament, delivering an outstanding midfield performance. Goalkeeper Ørjan Nyland, often doubted while sitting on the bench at Sevilla, made a crucial save in the dying moments of the match. Antonio Nusa, reminiscent of his idol Neymar, scored a memorable goal.
Haaland remarked, “I think this will change Norway forever,” a significant statement from someone not usually given to exaggeration. Solbakken, who had a pacemaker fitted following a near-fatal cardiac arrest in his playing days, added, “If I survive this I will survive anything,”
The idea for the team to join fans in the now-iconic Viking row after their victories originated from Haaland and Ødegaard, highlighting the genuine emotional bond between the players and their supporters. The question of whether the win over Côte d’Ivoire, Norway’s first knockout victory in a major tournament, surpasses the historic win against Brazil in 1998 remains open for debate. However, the narrative crafted by football’s storytellers is fitting, as the next opponent for Norway is none other than Brazil. It could not be scripted any better.
