Welcome back to It Was What It Was, the football history podcast. Today co-hosts Jonathan Wilson and Rob Draper are joined by a very special returning guest - Jan Fjørtoft! In this episode, we will explore Norway’s remarkable rise in the early 1990s and their famous 2–0 win over Graham Taylor’s England in 1993. Fjørtoft explains how Egil “Drillo” Olsen took a previously struggling national team and built belief through a disciplined, direct style, carefully defined roles, and detailed match analysis using hand-written stats and video. The episode breaks down the key tactical choices that unsettled England, revisits both Norway goals, and follows the qualifier run that took Norway to their first World Cup since 1938. Norway will return to the World Cup this summer for the first time since 1998. This episode will be followed by a three part special on Graham Taylor.
01:12 Norway before the rise
04:09 Olsen arrives and stirs
06:47 Direct football philosophy
14:31 Stats and analysis
20:05 Defined roles and system
23:40 Beating England
28:12 Tactical switch
31:33 Gascoigne fitness factor
32:50 Olsen’s Selection Mind Games
37:20 Two Goals Breakdown
42:41 Road to USA 94 Sealed
45:45 Poland Night and Wild Celebrations
48:46 Heroes Welcome in Norway
52:04 World Cup Heat Prep Fiasco
59:59 Egil Olsen Legacy
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