Klinsmann Warns Norway of Potential Squad Issues Ahead of World Cup
On Thursday, renowned former German football great, Jurgen Klinsmann, voiced his concerns to Stale Solbakken, the manager of the Norwegian national team, regarding the complexities that might arise within the squad during the upcoming FIFA World Cup this summer. Klinsmann, who boasts a wealth of experience both as a player and coach in high-stakes tournaments, highlighted a specific dilemma that could impact Norway’s performance.
Attending a football conference held at Ullevaal, Norway’s national arena, Klinsmann emphasized the crucial need for maintaining a positive atmosphere within the squad. He stated, “You have to keep the positivity in the squad up every single day. Even if people have a bad day, and if there is conflict between players or someone in the staff, or if the media creates noise,” according to NRK.
Klinsmann further underlined the vital role of ‘man-management’ during the tournament and cautioned Solbakken regarding the potential repercussions of failing to address internal discontent within the team. “Dealing with such internal conflicts is an important job for the coach,” he reiterated emphatically.
Having coached both the German national team in 2006 and the USA in 2014 at the World Cup, Klinsmann underscored the importance of maintaining player morale, particularly for those who might not see much playing time. Following a recent expansion of World Cup squads to include 26 players, he expressed concern over the heightened challenge this presents for coaches. “I didn’t like the expansion of the squads from 22 to 26 players that was introduced a few years ago. This causes additional problems,” Klinsmann asserted.
He articulated a preference for managing a tighter squad, stating, “I would rather deal with 22-23 players, instead of having to disappoint even more players.” He favored substituting players deemed capable of making a significant impact rather than resorting to late-game substitutions that might not influence the outcome positively.
As Norway gears up for their opening match against Iraq on June 17 at the 2026 World Cup, the messages conveyed by Klinsmann stand as a critical reminder of the complexities that come with managing a diverse and potentially restless squad during one of football’s most prestigious events.
