Bodø/Glimt wants to shock today at San Siro.
It’s hard not to admire Norwegian sports.
In the just ended Winter Olympics, the representatives of the fjord collected no less than 41 medals, 18 of which were gold.
Tonight, little Bodø/Glimt has an excellent chance to continue the success story in Milan.
Namely, it goes into the deciding part of the Champions League playoffs against Inter with a 3–1 lead.
– I believe that it will continue, futs editor of the Norwegian newspaper VG Steffen Stenersen says.
– Maybe I’m biased because I’m Norwegian, but I think the team has a good chance. One limit was already broken when it beat Atlético away. That’s when Bodø showed that it doesn’t just rely on its home stadium’s artificial turf.
“Tough match”
Stenersen answers Iltalehti’s call from Oslo airport. He is just about to buy himself a snack for the evening flight to Milan.
The Norwegian’s vision is not just wishful thinking. Inter underestimated Bodø/Glimt in the opening half.
Now it plays with its back against the wall. Bodø/Glimt doesn’t really have anything to lose at San Siro.
– But of course the match is going to be difficult.
Inter’s head coach Cristian Chivu was serious after the surprising away defeat. EPA / AOP
The only thing that is certain is that Inter didn’t train Cristian Chivu stop belittling your opponent. The Romanian strongly recycled the starting line-up of the Blues in the first part.
Then he said he wanted to rest the players for the match against Lecce.
– It is understandable that the opponents do not think about the Champions League when they arrive in the center of Bodø. It’s a small town, and the Aspmyra stadium is far from the kind of fields they’re used to playing on.
– The conditions make it so that the opponents do not see the danger of Bodø/Glimt, although of course they should.
Stenersen reminds that, for example, Tottenham went to Bodø to get an easy 2-0 away win on their way to the Europa League final in 2025.
Same DNA
The setback suffered by Inter was only the second for the Italian club in the entire history of the European Cup and the Champions League, when the opponent has been a Norwegian team.
The first victory was won by Rosenborg, who knocked down AC Milan at the end of 1996.
– These teams have a clear connection. Head coach of Bodø Kjetil Knutsen looking for inspiration From Nils Arne Eggen (Rosenborg’s original number one coach). Everything from the way he plays to leading the team comes directly from him.
It’s not just that Bodø uses the same 4–3–3 game system, even though futis has changed a lot in 30 years.
– Also, Knutsen never goes to ensure a draw on the away field. He always believes he can win. There is a lot of discussion in Norway about whether Bodø/Glimt has already surpassed Rosenborg’s achievements on the Euro courts. Opinions are sharply divided, Stenersen continues.
Ski champion
The wild success of all of Norway in different sports is largely based on the fact that children are encouraged to play as many different sports as possible for as long as possible.
Norwegian coach Kjetil Knutsen will not slow down in Milan either. EPA / AOP
Most of the clubs in the main series Eliteserien do not even have junior academy teams for under 13s – and Bodø/Glimt is no exception. Late specialization is advocated in Norway.
– We want as many children as possible to play for as long as possible – regardless of their level.
For example, a 29-year-old midfielder Sondre Fet in his teenage years, he was the champion of the Sunnmøre region in skiing. The value of the achievement is emphasized by the fact that one Johannes Klæbo left behind him.
Fet later left skiing to focus only on football.
– I’m sure that at least Klæbo is satisfied. He wouldn’t be the most successful skier of all time if Fet had continued his career, head coach Knutsen laughed after the Inter win.
The ex-skier scored the opening goal in the Nerazzurri net in last week’s match.
Competitive salaries
KuPS started their own Conference League playoff game with a badly short crew. It only had 13 international players available for last Thursday’s opener against Lech Poznań.
The Yellow and Black suffered a heavy loss when the best players received attractive offers in the January transfer window.
Bodø/Glimt, on the other hand, has had no problems keeping hold of their star players.
– It’s certainly especially great when you get to play Eurocups with your childhood friends. In addition, Bodø pays quite competitive wages. Players should go to top5 leagues to get more money.
26-year-old Jens Petter Hauge returned home after testing the strength of his wings in Serie A and the Bundesliga. PDO
Bodø/Glimt is currently by far the most successful Nordic football club. That’s why it’s a bit confusing that the reigning Norwegian champion is Viking from Stavanger.
– Bodø didn’t play badly, but Viking had a fantastic season. And it didn’t have to divide its forces between the league and the European games.
– This year the situation is different, because Viking is also participating in the Eurocups.
The Italian national team top scorer Alessandro Bastoni (right) has won the football European Championship gold. However, the match in Bodø was too difficult even for him. PDO
However, today “Superlaget” has a chance to make history. Even a one-goal loss at San Siro is enough for a place in the next round.
However, not all of Norway feels Bodø/Glimt’s success as its own.
– This is a controversial topic. Hardcore fans of other clubs don’t appreciate Bodø’s Euromarch. But Norwegians in general are at least interested in its matches.
– The big cities, Oslo and Bergen, of course have their own teams, and of course they don’t like Bodø/Glimt.
