The opportunity to become a real Norwegian hero – it’s there tonight – VG
The opportunity to become a real Norwegian hero – it’s there tonight
By Knut Espen Svegaarden
Victory in Istanbul tonight can quickly become one of the triumphs remembered in Norwegian national team history. And the special person in an edge that can be used at Fenerbahçe Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium quickly becomes national team manager Ståle Solbakken.
This is a comment. Comments express the writer’s attitude
Reason: Solbakken has been in similar situations before, also with a crew sentenced to defeat. It is now that he can show how he can manage to lift and make players, make them understand that this really is the chance to become heroes.
This is the way you need to use all kinds of – to your own advantage.
And think, hatch out, the very best match-plan-for this particular match.
Sometimes it is somewhat overrated it with «world-class coaching», which has become a widely used term when a football coach succeeds with the prey. Also, the fact that players follow the match plan, and that it was so ingenious, is sometimes somewhat excessive in retrospect.
Several national team players, under Drillo’s leadership, have said that, in certain matches, they did the opposite of what the boss had said at the players’ meeting before matches. “Low pressure” quickly turned into the opposite – because the experienced players thought it was best. Norway succeeded – so no one said anything.
But far more often, the national team manager’s words and actions in advance of matches matter.
And before the meeting with Turkey, Solbakken can try his own experience.
In his last period as coach and sports manager for FC Copenhagen (2019/20), Ståle Solbakken and many injuries got in the lap: Nicolai Boilesen (cruciate ligament), Jonas Wind (cruciate ligament), Dame N’Doye (knee), Viktor Fischer (ankle )) and Andreas Bjelland (thighs) – all solid players, among the best, to Solbakken. Most of the harmful happened in a short time.
Solbakken is without five good and important players – and he should use in the Europa League with FCK.
By getting a “go” in the remaining group of players, and believing that “we can do this”, FCK moved on from the group stage in the Europa League. Not only that, but they beat the Scottish champions (Celtic) in the round of 16 and the Turkish champions (Istanbul Basaksehir) in the round of 16.
In the quarter finals, Jonas Wind was back, and FC Copenhagen gave Manchester United and Ole Gunnar Solskjær a match at the door (lost after extra innings in Cologne).
It was a strong achievement, and with the due dates Solbakken has received before the meeting with Turkey, the situation is a bit similar.
* The team must be better structured and organize a few more times before under Solbakken.
* The layer must be extremely well balanced.
* Play on the “underdog” stamp, ie the favorite stamp has traveled by ambulance to Istanbul now. The Turks are guaranteed happy that Erling Braut Haaland and Alexander Sørloth have been put out of action, as has Mathias Normann. Maybe make it a little overconfident.
* The dead balls: There are good reasons why Solbakken has brought in external help here. If Norway gets a goal after a corner or throw-in against Turkey, then a lot can be done.
But first and foremost, Solbakken must give the players the belief that this can work, not talk about those who are not there, cultivate those who have to do the job, build up to the right ignition level.
And make them feel that they can handle this, if they beat Turkey, then the whole of Football Norway will be deeply impressed. They become heroes, a bit like the famous “Emergency National Team” it was last autumn.
Then Solbakken can only talk about everyone who is not there.
But not before.
Kick-off 20:45.