Solbakken Considered Quitting After Euro 2024 Failure Before Norway's Perfect WC Run
After heavy criticism for failing to reach Euro 2024, Solbakken called key figures hours after the Spain defeat. A year later, Norway topped their Nations League group.
Norwegian coach Solbakken considered quitting before glorious World Cup qualification campaign...
In a new book, Stale Solbakken says he came close to quitting as Norway national team coach during a major crisis after failing to qualify for the 2024 European Championships.
The book Oppstandelsen (“The Rising”) tells the story of the national team, from the major crisis when Norway failed to qualify for the 2024 European Championships to the euphoria across the nation when the men's team qualified for this year's World Cup.
Author Alfred Fidjestøl says he had unique access to the national team's inner circle. He attended several closed training sessions, kept in close contact with Solbakken and spoke with captain Martin Odegaard.
After Norway's defeat to Spain in October 2023, which ended their chances of reaching Euro 2024, Stale Solbakken called in key figures around the national team just hours after the loss.
“I don't know if I was hated, but I don't think there is any team in Norway that is more emotional than a men's national soccer team. We were also very disappointed,” says Stale Solbakken to NRK. “It was important to give an update after the match against Spain.”
In the meeting, he said that he had to “evaluate everything” after the big disappointment. “I think it is important in such a phase not to just persevere, but to take a breather and think about it.”
After failing to qualify for the European Championships, the national team faced heavy criticism. Solbakken felt he had let an entire nation down. Author Fidjestol spoke to several people who were present when Solbakken delivered the message.
The book says: “He found it necessary to inform his support staff about it. It was a natural time to consider the future. The train had gone, and it was nine months until the national team had to play a meaningful match again,” says Fidjestol to NRK.
🇳🇴🗣️ Erling Haaland: “If I was a Norwegian football fan, living in Norway, and Erling Haaland plays for the Norwegian national team. I expect him to take us to the World Cup. Simple as that.” pic.twitter.com/JqirQ151md
— CentreGoals. (@centregoals) December 28, 2025
“Of course then he had to find out if he actually had the enthusiasm and belief that he was the right man to be in this. This was a time when many in the population had begun to doubt,” says Fidjestol in the book.
The year after losing to Spain, Norway won their Nations League group. Six months later, they began World Cup qualification with eight straight wins from eight games and secured a ticket to the World Cup.
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