15.02.2020 - 12:00 | Source: Transfermarkt | Reading Time: 7 mins

Too early for “golden generation”

Haaland, Ødegaard and Berge: Norway’s light at the end of the tunnel

It is Jun. 23, 1998, just after 10:30 pm. Bebeto scores to make it 1-0 for Brazil against Norway at the Stade Vélodrome. Only five minutes later, the Norwegian Lions equalize. Tore André Flo and then Kjetil-André Rekdal per penalty overturn the result to pave Norway’s way to the round of 16. It is the country’s most significant success since 1938; Norway’s golden generation has reached its highpoint.

Haaland, Riise & Co.: Record market values in Norwegian football

Twenty-two years later, there is little left of the glory achieved at the 1998 tournament. Since 2000, Norway have not qualified for a major tournament. The most prominent Norwegian club, Rosenborg BK, has always been a contender in the Champions League. Now it is a success when the club qualifies for the Europa League. There are a multitude of reasons for Norway’s football problems.

On the one hand, there is the reality of modern football, which sees smaller countries being overshadowed by the big leagues in Europe. On the other hand, domestic football in Norway has failed to keep up with the development of modern football. But already in 2016, the Norwegian journalist Jonas Giaever wrote in the Guardian that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. The reason was the emergence of a new generation of talents, first and foremost, Erling Haaland and Martin Ödegaard.

Haaland, Berge, and Evjen: New depth of talent in Norway

Haaland has been the man of the hour at Borussia Dortmund. The 19-year-old wrote Bundesliga history with his seven goals in his first three Bundesliga games. With a market value of €60 million, Haaland is the most valuable player in Norway’s history. A title that he took over from Ødegaard (€50m), who is currently on fantastic form at Real Sociedad, where he is on loan from Real Madrid.

The two top talents are spearheading a young generation of Norwegians, who have decided to move abroad at a young age and then developed into key players at their respective clubs. Among them is midfielder Sander Berge – the 21-year-old spent three years at KRC Genk, where he became the most valuable player in the Jupiler Pro League and then was sold for €21.5 million to Sheffield United. Then there is Kristoffer Ajer, the 21-year-old, who joined Celtic in 2016 and is a crucial player for the Glasgow-based club.

In 20-year-old Leo Östigard, who is currently on loan from Brighton at FC St. Pauli, Alkmaar’s 19-year-old Hakon Evjen, or Genk’s 20-year-old Kristian Thorstvedt, Norway have other talented players in their squad. They are joined by the more experienced Joshua King (24, Genk), Mats Möller Daehli (24, Genk), Jonas Svensson (26, Alkmaar), Mohamed Elyounoussi (25, Celtic), Omar Elabdellaoui (28, Olympiacos) and Trabzonspor’s shooting-star Alexander Sörloth (24).

Lagerbäck is supposed to guide Norway's rebuild

In Feb. 2017, the Norwegian football federation (NFF) selected the Swede Lars Lagerbäck to oversee the creation of a new side. The 71-year-old guided both his country Sweden and Iceland through a successful period. Even though the integration of talent was not seamless, there are signs of progress.

Norway have turned away from the traditional kick-and-rush, which led the country to a second place in the 1993 FIFA World Ranking but also to the country’s decline in the 2000s. The country has long moved past the thought that John Carew would be the most technically gifted player ever produced in Norway.

Staff L. Lagerbäck Age: 72 Norway All seasons -

All competitions Games 31 Won 16 Draw 8 Lost 7

“Norwegian players were used to be at an international level,” Per Ciljan Skjelbred said to the Tagesspiegel ahead of Norway’s clash against Germany in 2016. “But many countries have caught up. Everyone has a good fitness now, plus they are better at football because they train more with the ball. We have to start from the beginning. That is exciting. (… ) You notice it with the generation that played on artificial grass. Their technical level is better because they spent more time with the ball. When I was young, we played half a year football and half a year handball – inside. That has changed. There are many artificial fields and indoor facilities now, we can train 24 hours a day, no matter whether it is summer or winter.”

On Mar. 26, Lagerbäck’s team will face Serbia in the qualification playoffs for the 2020 European Championships and there is a believe that the country could qualify for a major tournament for the first time in 20 years. The qualification cycle went well for Norway, only Spain managed to defeat the Lions. The two matches against Sweden ended in draws. Norway have lost just two of their last 15 games. A sign that this could be the next golden generation for Norway?

A golden generation? Too early to tell

Football has become an ever-bigger hype-machine. As a result, one should be careful about using terminology like the golden generation to describe the current crop of players TM user Norwegenbock, who has spent some time in the country, points out.

“Norway are not generally advancing,” he said. “Of course, it is great for Norway that thanks to the new generation, there is a bigger interest in the country. But I think it is a coincidence that two Norwegians managed to become superstars at the exact same time. Berge still has to show that he can play in a European top-league, even if I think that he is a top-talent.”

Market Value S. Berge Defensive Midfield € 20.00 m 20.00

Many players in the national team, however, have to become more consistent. “What is key for a golden generation is balance, a homogenous team that isn’t focused on just attacking,” Norwegenbock said. “The country is lacking defensive talent, in particular in goal. But the centre-back positions are also a problem. Only Östigard has a good international level.”

Financial problems: Norway’s clubs have to develop and sell talent

Ödegaard, Berge, Östigard and Haaland have one thing in common – they all left the country at a young age. Clubs only ask for moderate transfer sums, and young talent receives playing time in the Norway’s Eliteserien at a young age. “Clubs are throwing their talent at an ever-younger age into the cold water, often at 17,” Norwegenbock said. “The main reason is financial problems; clubs simply don’t have the money to buy players from abroad. As a result, Norwegian players are easy to scout for foreign clubs.”

Norwegian clubs have made the most out of a bad situation. But it is also difficult to create a long-term plan in that sort of environment. “Because of the financial situation, many clubs are forced to sell their best talent at a young age, not even for big money,” Norwegenbock said. “Haaland for €8 million was the most expensive transfer among the bunch. His former club, Molde FK, is one of the few not dependent on transfers. Molde and Rosenborg are miles apart from the rest of the league, like Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga.”

On the one hand, it is a blessing for the talented players in Norway; they are forced to make the step abroad where they are challenged to make the next step. “It is one of the results of globalization,” Norwegenbock said. “On the other hand, they are limited in their development in Norway because of the ever growing gulph between the top leagues and the football-developing-countries, where there is a lack of competencies to bring players to their highest level. At a certain point, they are forced to move abroad. The last coach with international experience was Ole Gunnar Solskjaer at Molde. But he is the exception.”

Staff O. Solskjaer Age: 47 Molde FK All seasons -

All competitions Games 241 Won 134 Draw 43 Lost 64

The financial problems are a limitation for the development of Norwegian football, even if the situation helps to develop talent. Hugo Vetlesen (19) from Stabæk Fotball will likely be the next player to move abroad. “The situation is simple,” Norwegenbock said. “Only if the NFF manages to increase the financial and sporting level of the league, can clubs keep their talent for a year or two longer. But at a German third division level – with the exception of Rosenborg and Molde – it is not possible to keep the best players,” Norwegenbock concluded.

Market Value H. Vetlesen Left Midfield € 500 Th. 500

While the Norwegian national team is seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, the Norwegian Eliteserien is still experiencing a dark age.

Translated from German by Manuel Veth

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