– What I worry about with social media is the feedback culture.

Ståle Solbakken stated that recently when he sit down to chat football with former Norway coach and current NRK expert ge Hareide.

– If you are afraid of what is written there, or are looking for something positive and think you can use what is written there for something positive, I am skeptical about that. You can always find something to push or drag you down. “It’s important that we in the national team or those closest to the players are the main suppliers in terms of feedback,” added Solbakken.

On Saturday, Norway play Slovenia in an important match in Ljubljana. To be sure, Norwegians who are interested in football will express themselves on social media like Twitter and Facebook both before, during and after the game.

And if games don’t go the way Norway hopes, or there are players who may not have had their best day at work, there’s bound to be a lot of harsh feedback.

– Receive shell surprise

On Friday night, NRK did a quick search of the names of the national team players on social media, and it didn’t take long before we came across a number of examples of feedback that few would describe as constructive.

The national team manager says he has developed a connection to the theme through his own children. Markus Solbakken (22), for example, played professionally for the Vikings.

– On the one hand, I have followed them through their childhood and youth and saw a bit of this. “I’m very good at dodging them myself, but sometimes I get a grenade shock when I enter,” he told NRK in Ljubljana.

He asks for objectivity from those who comment on the achievements of others.

– I’m not impressed with the level. I might also think that more and more people believe that life on social media is real life. I think we made a big mistake there. I think you in the media are also greatly exaggerating that, that you often come across a Facebook post or a Twitter message, and then it becomes a reality, and then you face the world based on that, he believes.

– I don’t know what percentage of the Norwegian population on Facebook or Twitter are in different age groups, but I don’t think that’s the real world. “It’s a slightly different world from what we should really pay attention to,” added Solbakken.

– Get carried away

Midfielder Sander Berge sat on the podium next to him. He answers questions like these about whether he has read things about himself that have made an impression:

– Yes, no doubt. I myself am a young player and have been in the spotlight since I was young. I literally grew up without social media and didn’t have an iPad or iPhone to work with, so I spent a lot of time in the field. When you get older, that generation has entered. There are different phases that people are more or less attracted to. Then it’s about being an adult and growing on it and ignoring it a bit, he told NRK.

Solbakken fears players will have to come to the national team support staff or immediate family if they need feedback. Berge agrees with that.

– What matters most is what you, your family, coaches and teammates think about things, not what the rest of the world does. Then you get swept up in a lot of opinions, lots of people have different opinions, and it’s dangerous to get caught up in them. It may not always give the correct picture of things, he said.

– You have played in several different countries. Are Norwegians worse than other supporters?

– It’s impossible to say. I don’t need to read any press other than Norwegian. I focus mainly on football, and know how much is going on inside and know what the picture is from the outside. Not necessarily the same picture. But many friends, family and acquaintances get that picture, not necessarily what you’ve experienced yourself, he believes.

Prior to Friday’s press conference at the Stozice Stadium in Ljubljana, news emerged that Joshua King had withdrawn from the national team meeting due to a thigh injury.

Erling Braut Haaland, Alexander Sørloth and Jørgen Strand Larsen are back in the squad that can play as pure forwards.

The good news is that captain Martin degaard is on the right track after his injury.

– Martin degaard trained today, and if he wakes up tomorrow and feels as good as today, there is a good chance that he will play, said Solbakken.

Warning against Slovenia

Therefore Norway will meet Slovenia in Ljubljana next Saturday, and if all goes to Norway’s favor, a group win is already guaranteed for the evening. Norway then play Slovenia at 6pm, while Serbia take on Sweden in Belgrade at 20:45pm tonight.

If Serbia loses against Sweden in the next match, Norway is the group winner with points against Slovenia. If Serbia draws against Sweden, Norway will win the group with a win against Slovenia.

Solbakken warned those who thought it would be an easy game for Norway.

– They have strong players in all positions, and also a clear identity. They are good on the counter-attack, can play in two different formations, 4-4-2 and 3-5-2, and especially at home they can punish all teams. It was seen against Serbia. They were also the best team against Sweden. “I think it will be a close and even match,” said Solbakken.

First and foremost, a possible group win ensures Norway have an extra chance in the playoffs should regular European Championship qualifiers fail in 2023. A group win also grants promotion to level A in the National League. This means that Norway will meet Europe’s best-ranked team and be seeded at the top level when the next edition of the National League is played.

As group winners, Norway are also confirmed to be seeded at level 2 when the group for regular European Championship qualifiers is drawn in Frankfurt on 9 October.

– Both games in this collection are very important. If we beat Slovenia in the first game, we will have to do well not to finish second, and that is all group winners and second best which means that we will most likely be seeded in group two in European Championship qualifiers. So there’s a lot to play for, says Ståle Solbakken.