Solbakken drops five World Cup players in bold Nations League shake‑up

Ståle Solbakken delivered major surprises in his first Norway squad since the World Cup, leaving out five players who featured at the tournament: Alexander Sørloth, Henrik Falchener, Fredrik Bjørkan, Jens Petter Hauge and Morten Thorsby. The omissions mark a significant shift as Solbakken looks to reshape the team ahead of the upcoming Nations League fixtures. In their place, he rewarded strong domestic form by selecting Bodø/Glimt trio Odin Bjørtuft, Fredrik Sjøvold and Ole Didrik Blomberg.

Viking striker Erik Botheim also earned a call‑up after scoring twice at the weekend against Kristiansund. The refreshed list signals Solbakken’s intent to inject new energy into the squad while reassessing roles for several established players. Norway will hope the mix of emerging talent and proven contributors provides momentum as they begin their Nations League campaign. As always, please confirm governance‑related details with trusted sources.