It's come from nowhere in a sense because they looked to be going downhill under their manager. He's been there for five years and has been massively under pressure for about four of them. He had to change his email address because he was receiving so much abuse after failing to qualify for the Qatar World Cup. The Euro 2024 failure was even worse and I was shocked he survived it. Norwegian fans were fairly incensed when he didn't get sacked after that qualifying campaign because he's apparently mates with the head of their FA and everyone seemed to assume it was a case of gross nepotism. Maybe it was but it seems to have worked out.
Norway like Belgium have proven you don't need to be a big football nation to produce a talented group of players. Things seem to have fallen into place for them. They're still one of two injuries from being back in the doldrums. It's scary that Norway will have haaland for the next decade. And we've only got kane for the next 5 years tops
And I wouldn't say their squad is particularly top heavy. They've just got an elite striker and a very good midfielder in Odegaard. The rest of the squad is fairly solid players and a couple of promising talents in Nusa and Bobb.
Sorloth is banging them in for atleti. They've go 3 huge strikers up front. They'll be a nightmare for defences next year
I think that says more about the current standard of La Liga than anything else. He was a massive flop in England and Germany. He can be a handful physically, but all but a few of his international goals have been against minnows.
I think they'll be fun to watch but their non-attacking players are such a massive drop off in quality I can't really see it. I suspect the conditions at the world cup will also lend themselves to the best squads, which again will make it much more difficult for them. I think most likely they'll end up with England's familiar issue when they play the best teams in tournaments, where they will struggle to keep the ball and be suffocated out the game.
I think they've got a chance but they're not the favourites of course. They'd need a mad run to do it but it's possible in the context of a short format knockout tournament.
They should get through the group stages, given the format. Once in the knockouts, you just need a slightly favourable draw and someone to go on a tear and you've got a shot at the last four. Haaland is one of the few players that can carry a team with big deficiencies. The alternative is if he's injured or out of form, and they're likely going home after the group stage.
Zinedine Zidane has reportedly secured his future return to management and will replace Dider Deschamps as France manager after the World Cup - The Sun Cristiano Ronaldo could be lining up in Portugal's opening game of the World Cup as the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) reportedly look to appeal his red-card ban - Daily Mail
🚨 Bournemouth may be powerless to prevent Antoine Semenyo sale in January. Contract includes £65m release clause - available to all clubs but must be triggered by set date so #AFCB get time to replace. Applies again in summer at lower price @TheAthleticFC https://t.co/jKz4rcH6qF— David Ornstein (@David_Ornstein) November 17, 2025 Suspect Semenyo might end up at Liverpool further distorting their homegrown but not English eligible numbers.
Exclusive: Arsenal could switch sides and oppose controversial 'anchoring' cap - which could deal death blow to the proposed new financial rules. Story with @Lawton_Times https://t.co/BEDcjBF4dt— Martyn Ziegler (@martynziegler) November 17, 2025
Trump: "It's like having many Super Bowls, actually. Each game is almost a Super Bowl. Some of them I guess you could say are bigger than Super Bowls, I guess when you get to the finals. It's of that level -- or more!" pic.twitter.com/d90EpzEwhI— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) November 17, 2025 FIFA came very close to having a good day in the Oval Office. Big concession on visa appointments for fans. But now Gianni Infantino is in a public conversation about relocating games from Seattle. Oh dear.— Adam Crafton (@AdamCrafton_) November 17, 2025 The World Cup is going to be bonkers.
If there's one thing FIFA know its corruption, and they'll know how to keep Trump happy. Just like how they've somehow managed to get this visa fast track system through.
Its mental how FIFA just do it. They give World cups to Qatar and Russia over the US among others The FBI investagates them and finds corruption everywhere. So what does FIFA do. Gives the next World Cup to the US. Also after poeple pointing out Qatar hosting looked a little dodgy. FIFA thinks its a good idea to give one to Saudi Arabia. This is all happening while England haven't hosted one in 60 years.
There are so many poor international teams around right now. Poland only drawing to Malta. The Northern Ireland game is really bad.
Armando Broja has avoided serious injury after being stretchered off for #Albania vs England. Ex-Chelsea striker set for scans on ankle after reporting to #Burnley training ground this morning. Not expected to be as bad as first feared. #twitterclaretshttps://t.co/QZIQFicUQ7— Dom Smith (@MrDomSmith) November 18, 2025
How on earth was that Hojlund goal disallowed? I actually want the Scots to win this but that was never a foul in a month of Sundays.
Wales are through to the play offs anyway through the nations league, although they would ideally prefer to win today for better seeding.