Welcome back to It Was What It Was, the football history podcast. Today co-hosts Jonathan Wilson and Rob Draper are joined by a very special returning guest - Jan Fjørtoft! In this first part of a four-part series, we will explore Norway’s remarkable rise in the early 1990s and their famous 2–0 win over Graham Taylor’s England in 1993. Fjørtoft explains how Egil “Drillo” Olsen took a previously struggling national team and built belief through a disciplined, direct style, carefully defined roles, and detailed match analysis using hand-written stats and video. The episode breaks down the key tactical choices that unsettled England, revisits both Norway goals, and follows the qualifier run that took Norway to their first World Cup since 1938. Norway will return to the World Cup this summer for the first time since 1998. 01:12 Norway before the rise04:09 Olsen arrives and stirs06:47 Direct football philosophy14:31 Stats and analysis20:05 Defined roles and system23:40 Beating England 28:12 Tactical switch 31:33 Gascoigne fitness factor32:50 Olsen’s Selection Mind Games37:20 Two Goals Breakdown42:41 Road to USA 94 Sealed45:45 Poland Night and Wild Celebrations48:46 Heroes Welcome in Norway52:04 World Cup Heat Prep Fiasco59:59 Egil Olsen Legacy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ask this episode

“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.

Transcript

Related