Martin Odegaard's Journey to World Cup Fitness
Martin Odegaard left the pitch in the American heat with sweat on his brow and a grin that told its own story. The equaliser against Morocco mattered, of course – a tidy finish in a 1-1 draw against the 2022 World Cup semi-finalists – but what really counted for Norway’s captain was something far more personal: his knee had survived, and his rhythm looked back.
This was Norway’s final World Cup warm-up, a last serious rehearsal on unfamiliar US turf. For Odegaard, it felt like the end of a long, stubborn chapter.
Knee trouble, finally easing
The Arsenal captain has carried a knee problem for months. He first picked it up in February during the Gunners’ 1-1 draw at Brentford, then played through pain for the final three months of the season, including Arsenal’s Champions League final defeat to PSG in Budapest.
On Sunday night, under a heavy sun and on a pitch he didn’t entirely trust, he sounded like a man finally stepping out from under a cloud.
“It felt good. I've been struggling with my knee for a while,” he told TV2 after the game. “I feel like it's starting to ease now and I feel like it's been good for a while. My physical shape is good. It was hot out here, but I felt like I was getting better outside.”
Those are the words Arsenal wanted to hear. More importantly for Norway, they are the words of a captain arriving at a World Cup – their first since 1998 – with something close to full power.
A captain in scoring form
Odegaard’s goal against Morocco was his fifth for Norway, a neat reminder that he brings more than just tempo and control to this side. It also gave him a chance for a small, personal joke with the man on the touchline.
After scoring, he turned and held up four fingers to head coach Stale Solbakken. The message was simple. Solbakken finished his Norway career with nine international goals. Odegaard is now on five.
“Now there are only four left. We are getting closer!” he said, smiling, as he explained the celebration.
Solbakken has pushed his captain to be more ruthless in front of goal. The numbers suggest the message is getting through. With Iraq, Senegal and France waiting in Group I, Norway will need every bit of that added edge.
Wrestling with the US pitches
The football itself wasn’t all smooth. The US pitches have been a talking point all week, and Odegaard didn’t hide his irritation with the bounce and feel of the surface.
“The one I gave away was ugly, luckily I got it fixed again,” he admitted. “It was a bit loose, and I was a bit unfamiliar with the bounce on the field and such. Maybe I can blame it a bit, but I think we worked our way into the game and got better as we went along. We could have won in the end.”
That sense of growing into the contest mirrored Odegaard’s own performance. Early hesitancy gave way to control, the touches sharpened, the passes bit a little more, and by the closing stages Norway looked the likelier side to steal it.
Dark horses with something to prove
Norway and Morocco arrive at this World Cup carrying the same label: dark horses. Morocco earned theirs in Qatar with that remarkable run to the last four. Norway’s comes from a squad laced with talent, finally back on the biggest stage after a 26-year absence.
For all the talk of systems, shapes and potential, nights like this hinge on individuals. On whether your best players are fit, confident and ready to drag a game their way.
Odegaard walked off in the US with a goal, a functioning knee and a coach reminded that his captain is coming for his scoring record. For Norway, that might be the most important sign of all before Iraq await in next week’s opener.
