Everybody witnessed Norway’s performance at the World Cup 2026, with the team reaching the quarter finals, with some controversial moments forbidding them a dream semifinal against Argentina. Many put Haaland as the head of the performance, some consider just that Norway has a once-in-a-life generation. This is not it. Because, for example, the captain, Ødegaard “played” way below his potential. Actually he didn’t contribute much in this wonderful campaign. Then what is it? The answer is rather simple, but the content behind it deserves a broad analysis and many examples. Because everything starts from the way in which the Norwegians approach sports in general.
Oslo Marathon 2024, first big revelation
I wrote about the approach first time almost two years ago, after completing the Oslo Marathon. In Norway, sports is not a hobby, it is not something regarded as an additional activity. No, it is just a way of life. Spending more and more time in this country, and also reading a lot about it, I’ve noticed that their approach is one which can’t fail, when it comes to sport results. Bodø / Glimt managed virtually to reach the quarter final of the Champions League (I know Sporting qualified, but given the evolution of the overall score feeds a bit my distinct conclusion), and their captain, Patrick Berg, is a key player in the Norwegian national football team, inclusive at World Cup 2026.
All sports are top in Norway
I want to speak about football, it is true, but the Norwegian approach towards sports is not limited to this sport. To consolidate this, I’ve reminded you about the marathon experience, since in Norway there are some of the best athletes in the world. Runners such as Ingebrigtsen, Warholm, or Moen; triathletes such is Blummenfelt, not to mention the great skier Klæbo. Norway performs at many other sports, and mentioning chess player Magnus Carlsen is enough as a final example to transpose the value of the results obtained from the Norwegian approach.
“Norway in a nutshell”, second revelation
While traveling from Myrdal, after “Norway in a nutshell“ experience, to Bergen by train, we witnessed the passion the locals have for skiing, especially when the train stopped in Voss – known as the town with the most Olympic medals / capita! A lot of teenagers, and adults climbed here with their skies. It was the winter holiday season still, but this didn’t mean any break. They were not in a holiday, they were just doing their thing. But in Norway you can ski everywhere, every time of the year. And if you don’t go skiing, you will go either to ride a bike, or running.
Values you learn from a very young age
How can all these impact football? Well, it impacts sport! Because it is a mentality cultivated from childhood, and all kids are encouraged to take on a sport, or several. It is not strange to hear about a football player that he practiced also handball, or that he took part in cross country skiing competitions in his youth. Or about an athlete that he played competitive football until the age of 15. The structure is solid and continuously evolving. Now, with football on the big screen, things become evident and need credible explanations and examples.
The fight lost from the start
For me, this is even easier, as Romanian football clashed with the Norwegian one. The fight was lost from the beginning, but few understood it beforehand. Because nobody in Romania understands Norwegian sports in general, and football in particular, like I do. If there is somebody, I would like to know him. Sure, you can state you do understand, it doesn’t need to be true. Another inexplicable paradox is that salaries in Romanian football are generally larger, on average, than the ones in Norway. In the circumstances in which the average salary in Norway is 3x bigger than the one in Romania.
You earn less in Norwegian football, but you have much more
Money is not the problem. Not the amounts invested are the secret, but the way in which they are invested. For example, a big hunch of the lottery earnings are automatically directed to fund sport. Investments are clearly targeted, not in a shady and preferential way. And the results follow. Cluj-Napoca, regarded by many as a wonder city in Romania – of course it is huge exaggeration, if you want to be candid – had both teams in the European competitions this year. Universitatea, a smaller club, faced Brann Bergen, the club struggling this season mid-table in Norway.
Tromsø IL beat U Cluj in 1995
Only by chance Brann didn’t won at Sfântu Gheorghe after dominating and had 2-0, but they managed to eliminate easily “U” at home, after 3-1 and 5-3 on aggregate. No chance for the team from Romania. Next round, CFR Cluj was punished even harder. A super multi champion considered by many, they lost 0-5 at home against Tromsø IL. A better team than Brann at a first glance – even if Bergen beat them 5-0 on home soil! – TIL didn’t move too many muscles to beat CFR in this manner. And, as a fun fact Tromsø also played once against U Cluj, in 1995, Intertoto Cup, and beat them 1-0. Of course, another era, but it was a memory worth putting in context.
CFR Cluj didn’t stand any chance in front of a club from a town with 50,000 people
A team that allegedly won eight Romanian championships fair and square in a span of 15 years was is put to ground by a squad coming from a place where only 50,000 people live, and where the arctic polar air is more present than in any other European settlement. Less than 7,000 capacity Romssa Arena, and a general income much lower than the one from the players of CFR Cluj proved to have no worth when talking about the performance on the pitch. It was a lesson; a lesson of strategy, of having a clear view and a path built to be followed smoothly.
Bodø / Glimt – Tromsø IL a big rivalry
The clear impression was that TIL could have scored many more goals, but they preferred to keep a lower profile, a normal sufficient approach towards football. They didn’t spare CFR Cluj, but played efficiently, dozed their effort in a decent manner. Their championship is mid-way, and they have, most likely a big complex: never one the league. Basically, the biggest arch rivals of Bodø / Glimt, they were left behind, in terms of results, by their even smaller opponents. For those who don’t know, until less than six years ago, Bodø had a poorer track record than Tromsø IL, but now we see where they stand. And after defeating Union Saint-Gilloise, Bodø / Glimt is two NEC Nijmegen games away from a new Champions League presence.
Brighton & Hove Albion, the big exam for TIL
Meanwhile, TIL, as we speak, put another clearer than the score shows victory against CFR Cluj, 2-1, is preparing for its real exam: the play-off for qualifying in Europe Conference League. Not the competition itself is important, but the opponent to go there, but the opponent which crosses Tromsø IL: Brighton & Hove Albion. For a town full of seagulls, like Tromsø is, to play against the… “Seagulls” can be a pretty good sign. Of course, it is a though shell to crack, but I have trust in TIL. Big trust! If they will make it, that won’t surprise me. If they don’t, it will be a valuable lesson learned. In the end, this is a real exam, and if Tromsø passes it, this can open a new door to Norwegian football performance.
Photo source: til.no