Berg Time – VG

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Berg made his debut, a qualifying round for the World Cup against Gibraltar on Wednesday, and played regularly. Against Turkey, Norway will have a much more defensive midfielder than was necessary against Gibraltar.

And with Sander Berge out of action, Patrick Berg is the best in that position in Norwegian football: safe on the ball, always playable, wise. And then it’s gotten a lot stronger in the last two seasons.

Patrick Berg has become the leader of Norway’s best team, Bodø / Glimt, and the meetings I had with him last year told me that Ørjan Berg’s son has grown up, thoughtful and confident, both in himself and in his anchor paper in midfield.

Now Ståle Solbakken does not play a pure 4-3-3, as Bodø / Glimt does, and against Turkey it will probably be 4-2-3-1 in Norway. And even though Patrick Berg doesn’t have an equally natural managerial suit on the national team as he has on Bodø / Glimt, he can do much of the same job.

Because he has the physique and the passing foot that is invaluable as a defensive central midfielder. And above all because he has a very wise football head.

Berg’s time has come, he fits the bill, as those who have held central midfield positions in recent years are all knocked out. Markus Henriksen has not been eliminated, nor has Ole Kristian Selnæs (the “crown accident”). Mathias Normann announced his retirement, Stefan Johansen has said no to the national team and Sander Berge remains injured.

And I’m not ruling out that Berg & Berge, Patrick and Sander, could form the central duo in midfield, with captain Martin Ødegaard in a more advanced role in the coming years. It is a duo for the future, both are 23 years old.

Ståle Solbakken already signaled just after the end of the Gibraltar match that there would be team changes for the Turkey match. It’s exciting how he wants to compose the team this time. The desire to start with both tips is guaranteed to be great. So Ødegaard may have to take on a vanguard role (if he prepares), perhaps with Jens Petter Hauge on the opposite side.

The feeling is that Kristian Thorstvedt starts on the bench against Turkey, although Solbakken likes scoring midfielders. It’s about balance in the team, against a rival who has completely different qualities from Gibraltar.

I’m also excited if he’s making changes to central defense. It was difficult to judge the two who played against Gibraltar (Stefan Strandberg and Marius Lode). It can be nice to have the speed of Stian Gregersen and the physical and leadership qualities of Kristoffer Ajer against the Turks.

There are at least many opportunities for Solbakken, two days before the meeting with Turkey.

But the key is probably in Martin Ødegaard, if he will be ready to play or not.