Soccer Nostalgia: Soccer Memories, Part 51- The Historical Norway v. England World Cup Qualifier on September 9, 1981-Video Interview and Blog Presentation with Mr. Runar Nordvik, the Head of Media at Norwegian Club FK Haugesund and former Football Journalist)

For this interview, I look back at the historical World Cup qualifier between Norway and England on September 9, 1981.

The Interview will be as a video link companion, while the Blog will be a presentation of the events.

The Interviewee is:

Mr. Runar Nordvik

Mr. Nordvik is the Head of Media at Norwegian Club FK Haugesund and former Football Journalist

Mr. Nordvik’s contact info:

Twitter: @RunarNordvik

My contact information:

on twitter @sp1873 and on facebook under Soccernostalgia.

https://linktr.ee/sp1873

September 9, 1981-Norway’s win over England and its impact on Norway Culture

When Norway hosted England in Oslo in a World Cup qualifier on September 9^th, 1981, no one could foresee that this match be part of Football History.

England were attempting to qualify for the World Cup in Spain in 1982 while Norway’s hopes had been dashed for some time.

In fact, Norway’s last World Cup qualification was in 1938 during the Pre-War era.

Norway’s players at this time were relatively unknown and mostly part-timers. The only successes were handful of players signed by Western European clubs.

Norway were managed by the former Rosenborg goalkeeper and Manager Tor Røste Fossen. He had been in charge since 1978 and much like his predecessors had failed to improve the Scandinavian Nation’s fortunes, around the time when its Danish neighbors were starting to make some headway with Sepp Piontek in charge.

This match against the English was also significant as the English Football League was fervently followed in Norway.

The gulf between the Nations was reflected in the previous encounter between the Nations, a year prior, at Wembley with England winning (4-0).

England were managed by former West Ham United Boss Ron Greenwood and featured the likes of Kevin Keegan, Trevor Brooking and Bryan Robson among many other familiar names certainly known to Norwegian fans.

In this Group, Hungary seemed set to qualify with England battling out with Romania for the second spot.

Photo From: Landslaget, Det Norske Fotballandslagets Historie, authors Egil Olsen, Arne Scheie,Per Jorsett, Otto Ulseth, 1997

(September 9, 1981, World Cup Qualifier, Norway 2-England 1)

Photo From: A-Laget, Norges 25 storste fotballspillere gjennom tidene, Authors Svein Saeter, Johan L. Oiestad

(September 9, 1981, World Cup Qualifier, Norway 2-England 1)

Incidentally, the English Football League had proposed to cancel the preceding weekend League fixtures so that the National Team could prepare.

However, Mr. Greenwood insisted the League matches to go ahead so that his players could get competitive match practice.

After the matches, Trevor Brooking, Dave Watson and Steve Coppell were forced to withdraw due to injuries.

Nevertheless, England presented a side that many believed should have no problem against a side like Norway (Glenn Hoddle playing in his first ever World Cup Qualifier).

England took the lead in the 15^th minute with Bryan Robson scoring his first ever goal for his Nation.

At this point it seemed England were predictably headed for a victory, but Norway would stage a comeback.

Just twenty minutes later, Albertsen touched in Lund’s cross from the left.

Photo From: Official Match Programme, Norway v. England, 1993

(September 9, 1981, World Cup Qualifier, Norway 2-England 1)

Photo From: Official Match Programme, Norway v. England, 1993

(September 9, 1981, World Cup Qualifier, Norway 2-England 1)

England seemed in disarray and Norway took advantage just minutes later in the 41^st minute. Arne Larsen-Oakland crossed from the left side, Terry McDermott failed in his attempted clearance and the ball fell for Thoresen, who turned and shot.

In the second half, England attacked but Norway were more dangerous with notably Jacobsen on counter-attacks.

Naturally, in England this loss was a national disaster as England were facing the prospect of missing out for a third straight World Cup.

Photo From: World Soccer, October 1992

(September 9, 1981, World Cup Qualifier, Norway 2-England 1)

As expected, the English Press were critical of Greenwood. They described this loss as the worst Football disaster since losing to the United States in Belo Horizonte during the 1950 World Cup. Kevin Keegan had only one shot during the entire match. He stated that the team was in disbelief, they had a bad five minute spell that proved costly.

Greenwood’s explanation was that everyone wants to defeat England, therefore they play the match of their lives against them.

He added, “We allowed the Norwegians to play for two minutes, and they scored two goals. This is Inexcusable.”

In the end, the English would win their last match vs. Hungary in November and qualify for Spain.

Photo From: A-Laget, Norges 25 storste fotballspillere gjennom tidene, Authors: Svein Saeter, Johan L. Oiestad

(September 9, 1981, World Cup Qualifier, Norway 2-England 1)

In contrast, for the Norwegians, this was their greatest Football success. The Television commentary at the end of the match by Bjorge Lillenlien is immortalized and part of Football folklore and history.

The jubilant Lillenlien said, "We are the best in the world! We are the best in the world! We have beaten England 2-1 in football!! It is completely unbelievable! We have beaten England! England, birthplace of giants.”, then continued with, "Lord Nelson! Lord Beaverbrook! Sir Winston Churchill! Sir Anthony Eden! Clement Atlee! Henry Cooper! Lady Diana! Maggie Thatcher, can you hear me, Maggie Thatcher! Your boys took one hell of a beating! Your boys took one hell of a beating!".

Photo From: Official Match Programme, England v Hungary, 1981

(September 9, 1981, World Cup Qualifier, Norway 2-England 1)

Photo From: Official Match Programme, England v Hungary, 1981

(September 9, 1981, World Cup Qualifier, Norway 2-England 1)

This win would not serve as an immediate catalyst and the National Team would stagnate until the arrival of Egil Olsen in the next decade.

However, this was not just a Football match, this win had a cultural impact in Norway.

The players who took part are still remembered to this day and have been active in the game in the succeeding decades.

The match is remembered by all historians of the game and not just the two nations involved.

It is and remains one of the greatest historical Football matches ever.

Photo From: World Soccer, October 1981

(September 9, 1981, World Cup Qualifier, Norway 2-England 1)

Date: September 9, 1981

Competition: FIFA World Cup Qualifier-European Zone, Group 4

Result: Norway 2-England 1

Venue: Oslo- Ullevaal Stadion

Attendance: 28,500

Referee: Jerzy Kacperczak (Poland)

Linesmen: -

Kick-off time: -

Goalscorers:

(Norway): Roger Albertsen 35, Hallvar Thoresen 41

(England): Bryan Robson 15

Summary of goals:

0:1 (15^th minute, England): Mariner’s cross from the left side was headed across by Keegan to Robson, he dribbled past the goalkeeper and scored.

1:1 (35^th minute, Norway): Lund’s corner kick from the right side was punched out by Clemence, Thoresen passed back to Lund on the right side, his cross was knocked in by Albertsen.

2:1 (41^st minute, Norway): Arne Larsen-Oakland’s cross from the right side was mis-kicked by McDermott in the path of Thoresen, who turned and shot.

Lineups:

Norway:

1-Tore Antonsen (Hamarkameraten)

2-Bjarne Berntsen (Viking -Stavanger)

4-Einar Jan Aas (Nottingham Forest Football Club / England)

3-Aage Hareide (Molde Fotballklubb- More og Romsdal)

5-Svein Grondalen (Moss Fotballklubb- Ostfold)

7-Anders Giske (Brann Sportsklubben- Bergen)

6-Roger Albertsen (Koninklijke Football Club Winterslag / Belgium)

8-Hallvar Thoresen (Philips Sports Vereniging Eindhoven / Holland)

9-Arne Larsen-Oakland (Turn und Sportverein Bayer 04 Leverkusen e.V. / West Germany) (13-Trond Pedersen (Start Idrettsklubben- Kristiansand) 87)

10-Paal Jacobsen (Vålerengens Idrettsforening)

11-Tom Lund (Lillestrøm Sportsklubb- Skedsmo) (16-Arne Dokken (Panathinaikos Athlitikos Omilos-Athinas / Greece) 76)

Coach: Tor Røste Fossen

Other Substitutes:

Tom Rusz Jacobsen (Vålerengens Idrettsforening)

Tore Kordahl (Lillestrøm Sportsklubb- Skedsmo)

Vidar Davidsen (Vålerengens Idrettsforening)

Team Captain: Hallvar Thoresen

Official Kit Supplier/Designer: Hummel

Uniform Colors: Red Shirts, White Shorts, Black Socks

England:

1- Raymond Neal Clemence (Tottenham Hotspur Football Club-London)
2- Phillip George Neal (Liverpool Football Club)
3- Michael Denis ‘Mick’ Mills (Ipswich Town Football Club)
5- Russell Charles Osman (Ipswich Town Football Club)
4- Phillip Bernard Thompson (Liverpool Football Club)
6- Bryan Robson (West Bromwich Albion Football Club)
7- Kevin Joseph Keegan (Southampton Football Club)
11- Terence Mc Dermott (Liverpool Football Club)
10- Glenn Hoddle (Tottenham Hotspur Football Club-London) (16-Peter Simon Barnes (Leeds United Association Football Club) 63)
8- Trevor John Francis (Manchester City Football Club)
9- Paul Mariner (Ipswich Town Football Club) (15-Peter Withe (Aston Villa Football Club-Birmingham) 78)

Coach: Ronald Greenwood

Team Captain: Kevin Joseph Keegan

Official Kit Supplier/Designer: Admiral

Uniform Colors: White Shirts, Blue Shorts, White Socks