The book "Oppstandelsen" ("The Rising") tells the story of the national team, from the enormous crisis when Norway did not qualify for the European Championships in 2024, to the euphoria felt by an entire nation when the men's national team qualified for this year's World Championships.
Author Alfred Fidjestol says that he got a unique approach to the national team's inner circle. He was present at several closed training sessions, had a close dialogue with Solbakken and, among other things, had conversations with captain Martin Odegaard.
After Norway's defeat against Spain in October 2023, which finally put an end to Norway's chances of making it to the European Championship in 2024, Stale Solbakken called in central figures around the national team just hours after the loss.
"I don't know if I was hated, but I don't think there is any team in Norway that is more emotional than a men's national soccer team. We were also very disappointed", says Stale Solbakken to NRK. "It was important to give an update after the match against Spain."
In the meeting, he said that he had to "evaluate everything" after the big disappointment. "I think it is important in such a phase not to just persevere, but to take a breather and think about it."
In the aftermath of the failure in the qualification for the European Championships, the national team was met with massive criticism. Solbakken felt that he had disappointed an entire nation. Author Fidjestol chatted with several people who were present when the Solbakken message came.
The book says: "He found it necessary to inform his support staff about it. It was a natural time to consider the future. The train had gone, and it was nine months until the national team had to play a meaningful match again", says Fidjestol to NRK.
"Of course then he had to find out if he actually had the enthusiasm and belief that he was the right man to be in this. This was a time when many in the population had begun to doubt", says Fidjestol in the book.
The year after losing to Spain, Norway won its group in the National League. Half a year later, they started the World Cup qualification with the first of eight straight victories in eight games and a ticket to the World Cup.