Norway football team: Internal tensions revealed after World Cup

New details have emerged regarding the Norway national football team’s recent World Cup campaign and their subsequent homecoming. According to a manuscript for assistant coach Brede Hangeland’s upcoming book, ‘Feltnotater fra fotball-VM – 47 dager på innsiden’, there was internal tension regarding the team's official reception at the Royal Palace in Oslo.

Head coach Ståle Solbakken reportedly expressed strong dissatisfaction when he learned that players Erling Braut Haaland, Martin Ødegaard, and Sander Berge might not participate in the palace visit following Norway's elimination. Solbakken insisted that the squad travel home to Oslo together before starting their individual holidays.

Beyond the administrative friction, members of the support staff described the intense emotional toll of the tournament. Assistant coach Brede Hangeland and team doctor Ola Sand noted that the magnitude of the event led to significant emotional outbursts among the staff, particularly during the opening match against Iraq and the playing of the national anthem.