""Football has obviously evolved a lot since my playing days, but this generation has the same drive and spirit we had," Solbakken tells ESPN. "Everyone looks forward to meeting up with the national team, everyone believes in the project and wants the best for one another. You can talk endlessly about tactics and what you want from the players on pitch, but it means little if you don't generate that team spirit.""
"Solbakken's team, once mocked for overcomplicating things, now exudes control, optimism and confidence as they prepare for a trip to the United States, Canada and Mexico next year. Indeed, the former Wolves and FC Copenhagen manager's long (and sometimes stubborn) insistence on structure and style has finally paid off after years of skepticism towards the national team. Norway have become a side that look both meticulously coached and emotionally connected."
Norway secured FIFA World Cup qualification after 4-1 wins over Estonia and Italy, reaching the tournament for the first time in 27 years. The squad combines world-class talents like Erling Haaland and Martin Ødegaard with a clearly defined identity shaped by manager Ståle Solbakken. Solbakken emphasizes drive, collective belief and team spirit alongside tactical structure. The side shows measurable strengths — pressing intensity, recoveries in the final third and a positive expected-goal differential — as well as intangible cohesion. Years of skepticism have eased as disciplined style, optimism and confidence yield consistent results and a renewed national momentum.
Read at ESPN.com
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