Norway’s Failure Pins Future Hopes On Very Few

Norway's failure to clinch a qualification spot for the Euro 2016 finals in France comes as a significant disappointment to their fans but not much surprise for the rest of us, their record at the international level dismal to say the least. But do they now need a new manager to take the reins and have we found the Russ Deleon type figure they need to push them forward to success in the shape of Ase Marie Nordhagen?

Norway's qualification record for major competitions has always been a little lack-luster, and despite always having a few great hopes for the future these seem to come few and far between so the effect is just to provide stark contrast, a mediocre team surrounding one or two key players. Should we then see Norway's failure to get to France as being perhaps not a disaster but a run of consistent form that at some point take the all important step from the also-ran column on the international scene?

Norway's Future
• Lack of qualification
• Lack of cohesion
• Wunderkind in the wings

Will there be a coincidence of players that can lift not just the team but their country's aspirations? Norway's failure to deliver in Budapest against the formidable Hungarian defense might not have been the glorious triumph they hoped for, but it did show promise, the team getting as far in the competition as did regional rivals Denmark, with the Finns not even making it that far. So then whilst the future seems a distant way off there is definitely room for Norway to make the jump.

The problem Norway has is that it's own domestic leagues, whilst enjoying somewhat of a resurgence, do not quite rise to the level of competence required to keep national side players in adequate form and a good many of their number play abroad, this even applies to their future talent as the tale of Martin Odegaard highlights, but if there's one thing those that like to bet on sports in Norway at ComeOn! Sportsbook etc, should take away from the game against Hungary is that Norway's failure came not through big names but homegrown stars.

Norway's Failure Run Of The Mill?

Martin Odegaard is what is known as a “wunderkind” having been plucked from the ranks of spotty teenagers at a tender age to be funneled into the sport for which he has a natural and evident talent. The constant press speculation and his final contract with Real Madrid whipping up expectations into a frenzy but alas his game against Hungary was less than impressive with the young chap subbed for his troubles by Per-Mathias Hogmo who was trying to avoid Norway's failure to qualify.

Of course Odegaard is still young and as his age and experience both grow there's every chance he will be able to make a far more useful contribution to his national side, his talent really does mean it's just a matter of time, but his impatience is legend, and he did have to watch a Hungarian ensemble side gain the result his team so badly needed. Norway's failure, let us remember, came from a pair of matches they had plenty of chances to win, but had no aptitude for putting to bed.

Domestic player Laszlo Kleinheisler's debut goal might have clinched the first match for Hungary, but with superb defending and one of the most experienced goal-keepers in the competition, Gabor Kiraly, it was by no means a one man show and that's something Norway will have to emulate rather than just pin their hopes on one or two very good young players who may falter under having all chances of avoiding Norway's failure in the future pinned upon them. But can we really start gambling news of that concept will have got across?

Can Ase Marie Nordhagen Take Over From Per-Mathias Hogmo?

Ase Marie Nordhagen has skills (Video: YouTube)

Unfortunately probably not. Norway's failure at the international level belies not just a lack of team cohesion and balanced skill sets, but that there is a slightly less than helpful lack of drive from those in charge of the team that has never really found a manager worth its salt. However with FIFA's scandals piling up quicker than winter snows on a mountain side, perhaps a more open mind in finding a new manager will have to be encompassed if Norway want to fight their way out of this malaise.

Now if you're Norwegian gambling laws of averages mean at some point you'll get both the team and manager that you deserve after this long a wait, I wouldn't hold your breath, the alignment of the planets that will require just might not crop up any time soon, and whilst the wunderkind will form part of the next generation of Norwegian players, it'll have to be the team as an entity that rises up, not just a few individuals hoping to save the rest of them from Norway's failure which almost seems traditional.

Fortunately when it comes to management there's a great prospect on the horizon in the shape of Ase Marie Nordhagen who, it would appear, could teach a the entirety of Norwegian football a thing or two after an entire lifetime dedicated to the sport. Ase Marie is now 90 but has been practicing her skills since 1940 with her own personal record for keepy-uppies standing at 1,003 and that sort of inherent skill and long term dedication is precisely what the Norwegian team will require going forward.