The Norwegian club’s big games in Europe are not only important for the club itself, but with this form, Norway is well on its way to one extra Champions League spot.
ON ADVENTURE: Bodø/Glimt advanced in the Champions League qualification on Wednesday. The picture was taken when Bodø/Glimt beat Roma 2–1 at Aspmyra earlier this year. Photo: Bjørn S. Delebekk / VG
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This season and next season (2023/24), Norway has four clubs in the qualifying round of the European Cups, men:
With the performances of the Norwegian clubs this week, Norway has put itself in a good position for the 2024/25 season to be to Norwegian teams in the Champions League qualification rather than just one.
This also means that Norway can have five clubs instead of four in the major European tournaments.
– Norway received an extremely high amount of positive attention yesterday. We were the only country with all four countries that won and the country that picked up the most points this week. It was noticed internationally. It is very good for Norwegian football, says football commentator Jørn Sundby, who has good control in this field.
The points that Sundby refers to are from the European Football Association (UEFA) coefficient:
Before the season, Norway was in 17th place, but has managed to climb up to 13th place in this ranking. The 15th place gives five places in the European Cups (for Champions League places, one Europa League place and for Conference League places).
13TH PLACE: Norway is in a good position. Read more about the points system and what knowledge means to Norway in the next fact box. Photo: Screenshot / Swissfootballdata.com
This season, Norway has one Champions League place (Bodø/Glimt) and three places in the Conference League (Lillestrøm, Molde and Viking).
Bodø/Glimt can reach the group stage in the Champions League this season, but have already secured the group stage in the Conference League.
– I think if we get one more team into the group stage, then we have a very good chance of top 15. Then they have to do quite badly in the group stage for us not to make it, believes Sundby.
Viking knocked out big club Sparta Praha in dramatic fashion on Thursday:
It is not just 15th place that is lucrative for the Norwegian clubs. 12th place gives one place in the Champions League playoff and one place in the 2nd qualifying round. Sundby believes that 12th place can also go with only Norwegian teams in the group stage.
– It can quickly continue to lag, but it depends on how they perform. It also depends a lot on how Switzerland performs, they are clearly a good challenger with good teams in Basel and Young Boys.
The Norwegian results in the European qualification are pleasing to Leif Øverland – CEO of Norsk Toppfotball (NTF).
– It is incredibly motivating. The top 14 are in our strategic plan. Europe is incredibly important, says Øverland to VG.
– How important is the top 14 goal?
– In my mind, it is extremely important. If you want to join professional football, Europe is connected to getting paid more for the younger players when they go to the bigger leagues. In the main, most clubs have bet against Denmark with results from FC Copenhagen. Well, you look at Norway, and then the clubs get paid better for younger players.
– It gives more positive talk about Norwegian football. The Premier League is incredibly strong in Norway, but people see that the players leave the Eliteserien because they have become too good for the league, and then they see that they do not end up on the bench, but they are successful, continues Øverland.