This summer, Sorloth and Haaland – two top strikers in La Liga and the Premier League, respectively – will be watching EURO 2024 from home. It’s a fact, not an April Fools’ joke.
Norwegian football isn’t short of stars. They have Martin Ødegaard, who scored 8 goals and provided 10 assists in the 2023/24 Premier League season. Upfront, the Norwegian national team boasts Erling Haaland and Alexander Sørloth – two prolific goal scorers in the Premier League and La Liga.
Haaland wrapped up the season with 27 goals and 5 assists, helping Manchester City clinch the Premier League title. Meanwhile, Sørloth netted 23 goals and contributed 6 assists while playing for Villarreal. The 28-year-old striker can certainly add to his tally with one more La Liga matchday remaining.
In modern football, having just one talent is enough to make opponents envious. In Norway’s case, they have the outstanding Ødegaard in midfield, along with two deadly strikers in Haaland and Sørloth. However, they won’t be able to showcase their skills at EURO 2024.
Sørloth has just scored 4 goals against Real Madrid in La Liga.
In the qualifiers, the Norwegian team only ranked third in a group that included Spain, Scotland, Georgia, and Cyprus. It’s a disappointing result considering the quality of the squad.
For comparison, the Scottish national team brings together players mostly from the “B list.” Andrew Robertson and Scott McTominay stand out as their most notable stars. However, they are not world-class strikers or exceptional midfielders.
These examples highlight the paradox in football without a clear solution. It has been a long time since the Norwegian team last participated in the World Cup or EURO. Even when they qualified for one of these prestigious tournaments, their squad didn’t consist of many world-class stars.
In 2024, the Norwegian team boasts players like Haaland and Sørloth, nightmares for opposing defenses, and Ødegaard, a highly creative midfielder capable of breaking down defenses with pinpoint passes. However, this generation of players couldn’t lead the national team to qualify for EURO 2024.
