Is the Norway National Team About to Enter a Golden Era?

There are a few exceptional talents emerging out of Norway who could go on to drive the national side to success in the years ahead. It has been a long time since the country’s last appearances in the World Cup (1998) and the UEFA European Championship (2000). But with the likes of Erling Haaland, Martin Odegaard, and Sander Berge coming up through the ranks, Norway could be back on the international stage by the time the next World Cup rolls around.

Erling Haaland

Erling Haaland has already been likened to one of the greatest Scandinavian footballers of all time, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, and the 19-year-old Leeds-born striker had been the most prolific goal scorer in the Bundesliga since he arrived at Borussia Dortmund in January 2021.

Indeed, in 511 minutes played, the potent forward notched nine goals. That equated to a strike every 57 minutes. Impressively, it’s superior to Golden Boot-chasing Robert Lewandowski’s record of a goal every 82 minutes. This helped put the Black and Yellows within inches of the top of the table. It's fair to say it probably also influenced bettors to take the tempting odds of around 5/1 for them to win the title at new betting sites. Comparison services such as bettingselskaper.com could also have helped them boost those bets - with bonuses - but Haaland and his skill already support the team's value and therefore the value of a bet placed on them: the player is an exciting prospect who could easily propel Norway to success on the national stage.

Martin Odegaard

Martin Odegaard is another Norwegian youngster who is flying high in one of Europe’s top leagues. The 21-year-old who has already made 22 appearances for the national team has played for various sides in La Liga since signing for Real Madrid in 2015. The midfielder is currently on loan at Real Sociedad, where he has been getting accustomed to the rigours of the league. He is seen as a future prospect for Los Blancos, who currently have a plethora of world-class options in the position.

Odegaard was the youngest ever debutant for the Norway national team when he made his first appearance against the United Arab Emirates in 2014 at the age of 15 and 253 days. The attack-minded midfielder has drawn comparisons to David Silva and Lionel Messi in the past and could have a bright future ahead of him.

Sander Berge

Sander Berge operates in the centre of the park, but in a more defensive role. The 22-year-old signed for Sheffield United in January 2021 and became the club’s record signing. Berge has also made 20 appearances for the national side and has established himself as a key figure for Lars Lagerback. The former Genk star is a tall and commanding player who can control the midfield with strong tackles and pinpoint passes.

It should come as no surprise that sites like transfermarkt.com are hyping up these players as the light at the end of the tunnel for football in Norway. They are each playing key roles in teams that are challenging at the top ends of their respective divisions. This talent, along with the likes of Josh King and Alexander Sorloth, could be enough to get Norway into the next World Cup in Qatar.