– It has been a hard autumn – VG

Mats Møller Dæhli was appointed captain of Leif Gunnar Smerud for Norway’s match against Austria.

– I’m incredibly happy, proud. It bothered me when we let in, but we had to have two, and then it doesn’t matter much. We lost a bit of structure, then we had to start making changes and people fell down with cramps. There was the “incredible” technical team. They constantly had to adapt to what was happening in the field, says Mats Møller Dæhli by phone to VG shortly before midnight.

The most experienced man on the emergency team, with 24 caps on the list of merits, ran tirelessly down the left wing. The 25-year-old pushed aggressively and played well with his teammates until he was replaced after 67 minutes.

– How did the underdog feel before the game?

Did it feel like a normal international match or was it something different? – It was completely different. It was especially sick, we had to get to know each other in a short time and we had a lot of one-on-one conversations for two or three minutes here and there. Amazing how everyone came with energy and humor. Once we made a plan, we started to believe that we could put up a good fight. Then came the nervousness too. Then you don’t have the feeling of total helplessness, says Dæhli.

– This was a sick experience. The spark and accomplishment we show today make me incredibly proud. We create opportunities. I don’t know if we could have done much more. I’m so proud, Mats Møller Dæhli said in tears on TV 2 after the match.

Dæhlie has battled injuries in recent years and development has not gone as well as the 25-year-old wanted. To VG, he explained the message he had given to his less deserving teammates before the game.

– It has nothing to do with making up for anything. We just wanted to fight and show those who sat at home that we are a team that fought for each other and worked together, and fighter for our country. That’s what I told the guys before the game that I thought we should be brave and dry. That was more our focus, said the captain of the national team.

During the interview, it could be clearly seen that it was an excited captain who spoke at home with the Norwegian people. It shone in the eyes of Dæhli, who spoke of a difficult time.

– It has been a hard autumn, also for me personally. So now I am touched and proud of the team. That he becomes captain of Norway in such a game, and that we stand up in this way, is absolutely fantastic, he tells the channel.

Before the game, VG told the story of a difficult time in the club’s team for Møller Dæhli. He has been out of the Belgian Genk’s starting lineup for five weeks and has only had 20 minutes of play since August.

Dæhli was severely beaten by one of the journalists from the local Genk newspaper, but he told VG that his form was good.

Wednesday’s game was clear proof of this. Against Austria, Dæhli brutally struck back with an excellent performance against the 25th best national team in Europe.

– We introduce ourselves and I hope everyone at home had a nice evening, and saw that we fight for Norway. That in a somewhat difficult moment for many, it was a pleasant experience for many, he told TV 2.

Austria was the big favorite against a B-branded Norway. Within days, the Norwegian Football Association had to rush Norwegian players living abroad, and the emergency national team only managed a training session before the match of the Wednesday in Vienna.

Before the match, it was clear that UEFA condemned Norway to a 3-0 loss to Romania, but the Reds, Whites and Blues could still secure a Nations League group victory.

Norway impressed a lot in the first 45 minutes and were quickly able to take the lead at halftime. After switching sides, he narrowed. Zahid de Ghaya sent Leif Gunnar Smerud’s men in the lead after a precise pass from Veton Berisha.

Norway continued to chase the 2-0 scoreline that could secure a group win, but instead it was Austria that drew completely at the back, without taking credit from the urgently called players.