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.
Norway before the rise
Olsen arrives and stirs
Direct football philosophy
Stats and analysis
Defined roles and system
Beating England
Tactical switch
Gascoigne fitness factor
Olsen’s Selection Mind Games
Two Goals Breakdown
Road to USA 94 Sealed
Poland Night and Wild Celebrations
Heroes Welcome in Norway
World Cup Heat Prep Fiasco
Egil Olsen Legacy
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