NORWAY

Østigård is among the shortest players on the team, yet he is perhaps the best header of the ball. "My father and I have practised heading a lot. I've been heading a ball since I was three years old, so by now I should be good at it," Østigård told NRK Sport. There were signs early on that the boy from the small town of Åndalsnes on the west coast was destined to become a top defender. He watched his first World Cup in 2006 and one player in particular made an impression on him. "Fabio Cannavaro isn't the tallest, but he was 'crazy' in the head and won every duel. He inspired me." Remarkably, Østigård went on to join one of Cannavaro’s former clubs, Napoli, in 2022 and won the Scudetto the following year. With Norway, Østigård lost his starting place in 2025 after some costly mistakes but he is a fighter and he will do anything he can to reclaim his place in the team.

You will struggle to find anyone who has a bad word to say about Sander Berge. The midfielder always seems to have a smile on his face and goes about things, seemingly, without a worry in the world. Yet life on the pitch has not always been easy for the 28-year-old as he has had to shoulder a lot of responsibility at the heart of the Norway midfield, while also being relegated with Sheffield United and Burnley. However, there have been several highs as well and since 2025 he has been an established Premier League player and was among the best players on the pitch as Norway qualified for the World Cup. He also became a father for the first time. Berge's height, which makes him a towering figure on the field, comes via his family: his mother, father and older brother have all played basketball at an international level.

It feels almost surreal to think that one of the world’s best footballers grew up in Bryne, a small and unremarkable town in the south-west of Norway. Could it be because people from there work extra hard to get ahead? Is it all the hours spent in the indoor hall that was built because it's difficult to play football outdoors all year round? Maybe it's the fresh milk from the local cows. Perhaps it is because Haaland was so obsessed with football he watched every game he could on TV and even studied Jamie Vardy's ability to stay onside? Or is it because his mother was a prominent heptathlete and his father, Alfie, played in the Premier League? Probably it is a mix of everything. What’s for certain is Haaland’s astonishing goal return – becoming his nation’s all-time top scorer before he turned 25, three Premier League Golden Boots in four seasons at Manchester City, 57 Champions League goals in 58 games – marks him out as a phenomenon and the greatest centre-forward of his era.

When he was six years old, Ødegaard kicked a football at 60km/h. He played his first senior match at the age of 13. Two years later, he had dominated Norway's top division to such an extent he became the world's most sought-after wonderkid. When he made his debut for the national team at the age of 15, Ødegaard’s technique, ability to read the game and dictate the tempo made him look like a seasoned pro. "I needed five minutes to see that he has what it takes," said the then Bayern Munich manager Pep Guardiola. Having joined Real Madrid in 2015, he made his debut as a substitute, replacing Cristiano Ronaldo. His rise to the top was not linear though and there were setbacks with the national team and loan spells at Heerenveen, Vitesse and Real Sociedad before a transformative move to Arsenal. Now, though, he is the captain for club and country and will lead Norway in their first World Cup since the year he was born. It is safe to say that the wonderkid has become a man.

Among all the stars in the Norwegian national team, no one is more appreciated by the fans at Ullevaal Stadium than Nusa. Every time he gets the ball, the crowd's anticipation can be heard – and he almost always responds by dribbling past his opponent. The highlight so far was his dream goal in the 3-0 home victory over Italy, which he followed up with another beauty into the top corner in the return match at San Siro. Two years ago, when asked how he became so good, he said: “I watched clips of Neymar on YouTube and went out to try to copy him.” The unusual thing with Nusa is that, so far, he has been better for the national team than for his club sides. He has been with RB Leipzig since 2024 but as more people are likely to make note of Norway's fan favourite at the World Cup, a move to one of Europe’s biggest clubs could be on the cards.