The names of Ecuador, Japan and Norway are being added to the conversation relating to ‘dark horses’ ahead of the 2026 World Cup.

Despite a 28-year absence from the tournament, the Scandinavian side cruised through a qualifying group that included Italy with a flawless 100% record (8 wins from 8), leading all of Europe with an astonishing 37 goals scored.

The team boasts arguably the most lethal attacking focal point in the world with Erling Haaland, who scored a qualifying-high 16 goals, pulled forward by the elite creative vision of Arsenal’s Martin Ødegaard. Supported by other top-tier European talents like Alexander Sørloth and Julian Ryerson, Norway pairs technical fluidity with immense physical stature, making them a lethal threat on the counter and at set-pieces.

The team are coached by Ståle Solbakken with the 58-year-old well known for his ‘near-death’ experience back in 2001 when playing for FC Copenhagen.

Training ground scare

During a routine training session with the Danish side, Solbakken suddenly collapsed to the ground.He had suffered a massive heart attack brought on by a previously undetected congenital heart defect.

His heart stopped beating completely and by pure coincidence, the club’s physician, Frank Odgaard, was present at the training ground that day and he administered intensive CPR on the pitch to keep oxygen flowing to Solbakken’s brain. Paramedics continued resuscitation efforts in the ambulance, finally shocking his heart back into rhythm on the way to the hospital. All in all, he was clinically dead for roughly seven minutes.

Though Solbakken eventually recovered and was fitted with a pacemaker it was decided that continuing to play professional football was too high a risk and he officially retired from the game as a player later that year.

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