How Norway got back to basics

After a 0-0 Group H draw at home against Azerbaijan in June, Norway fans may have had good reason to kiss their dreams of direct qualification for UEFA EURO 2016 goodbye.

However, a 1-0 win in Bulgaria and – more notable still – a 2-0 home success against a Croatia side that had earlier mauled them 5-1 in Zagreb – guaranteed Norway at least a play-off place. Win their final games against Malta and Italy, and France will beckon for Per-Mathias Høgmo's men.

Norwich City midfielder Alexander Tettey gave the coach credit for the work he put in preparing his side for those September successes. "He worked hard with us, and told us in no uncertain terms how important these games were," the 29-year-old said. "He told us that it was time for us to be men and not boys on the pitch. He wanted us to play in a more professional fashion, so that we could exploit our strengths."

Two clean sheets in those matches give some indication of what Norway's strengths might be, with Tettey under no illusions about his side's abilities. "Those two wins were good, but we are not world champions - far from it," he noted. "But the wins show we are on the right track."

The rock-solid foundation for Norway's mini-revival was the central defensive partnership of Vegard Forren and Even Hovland, and with that in place, Norway's attacking players had a platform to work on. Malmö striker Jo Inge Berget prospered, and had a hand in both goals against Croatia – his first following a deft turn that wrong-footed the Croatian defence.

"When Jo Inge is on form, he can do things like that," said Høgmo, who replaced Egil Olsen as Norway boss in 2013. "This team is still a work in progress, and as a coach it is nice to see players blossom like Berget did. But contributions from players like Even Hovland, Stefan Johansen and Per Ciljan Skjelbred should not be underestimated either."

Norway have not appeared at a major final tournament since UEFA EURO 2000, when they could call on the likes of Henning Berg, Tore André Flo and Ole Gunnar Solskjær – all players with significant European reputations. The current squad have nothing like that kind of profile, but while Høgmo's side have not always convinced everyone, the nation is starting to warm to their rugged charm.

"After the Croatia game, Norwegians can speak about qualifying for the EURO finals without feeling awkward," wrote VG newspaper columnist Knut Espen Svegaarden "Høgmo achieved this by adopting a more direct style of play that suited the Norwegian team better. Norway won those two games by playing well, getting the tactics right and with players that showed commitment. Oh, how good it is be back on the map again."