As early as the summer of 2024, the Norwegian national volleyball team began preparations for the 2026 European Championship. Norway has never been in a European Championship play-off before, and in 2024 the Norwegian Volleyball Association worked hard to ensure that the men's national team had the best conditions to reach the championship.
Last year's preparation paid off with a convincing 3-0 win over Montenegro at home in Arendal. This was the key match to even have a chance of qualifying for the European Championship.
The men's national team is in full swing with the preparation for the qualifiers in August. They have already spent a week in Poland for a training camp and will stay there until July 28. Then they will travel to Denmark to participate in the Nordic Cup. After the tournament, they will travel to Oslo and Arendal, where they will make their final preparations before the home match against the Czech Republic on August 9. In last year's meeting with the Czech Republic, who are big favorites in the group stage, Norway suffered a stinging 0-3 loss on away field. We are crossing our fingers that this year's preparations will yield better results on home ground.
We asked one of the national team's setters, Samson Olsen, a few questions about life as a professional volleyball player and the road to the European Championship. Olsen currently plays in Switzerland for the St. Gallen team TSV Jona.
Instagram: @samsonolsen
Can you tell us a little about how you experienced your first season as a professional player in TSV Jona, both sportingly and personally?
I really enjoyed playing at TSV Jona. The coach was really good at player development and good exercises in training. I felt like I was getting better every day. Jona is a young team, and we struggled to compete well enough against the top teams in the league. The talent is not there. Living in Switzerland was an incredibly nice experience in itself.
How has the first week of training with the national team been?
Hard! We've been working hard from day 1, but with good load management along the way. The days have been very good. It's incredibly nice to be together with Norway's best athletes.
How would you describe the dynamics and atmosphere in the group of players now that you are preparing for the qualifiers?
Lots of humor and banter. We like that. At the same time, it is very serious when it has to be. The whole group is geared up to work really hard this summer. We are going to the European Championship. It is an incredible privilege to be part of such a group.
What are your thoughts and feelings about the opportunity to write Norwegian volleyball history by qualifying for the European Championship finals for the very first time?
First and foremost, I am grateful for the opportunity. We don't have to suffer, but we will suffer. We are the country's chosen ones and it is incredibly cool to carry volleyball Norway on our shoulders and hopefully take us to our first European Championship.
What does a typical day look like for you on the national team between training sessions – what does your time do when you’re not on the field?
Food, food, food, card games, sleep, and a little too much looking at your phone. We train so hard that our bodies get tired. We take a few trips to the store and sit outside in the sun, but otherwise it’s all about recovery.
How will Norway qualify for Euro 2026?
Currently, Norway is in second place in the group with three points. The Czech Republic leads with 6 points, while Montenegro is last with zero points. Norway has two opportunities to qualify for the 2026 European Championship finals. The first and best opportunity is of course to win the group stage. The second opportunity for Norway is to become one of the five best "seconds" among the seven groups in the group stage.
Alternative 1: What does Norway have to do to win the group and be ready for the European Championship?
Norway still has a chance to take first place in the group, but they must then beat the Czech Republic at home either 3-0 or at worst 3-1. Norway may also have a microscopic chance with a 3-2 win, but then they are dependent on Montenegro also winning when they face the Czech Republic
Alternative 2: The five best runners-up from the group also go to the European Championship
At the time of writing, Norway is last in the group of seven where the five best runners-up go to the European Championship. Therefore, it is important that Norway is fully focused on picking up as many sets and points as possible through both qualifying matches in August. What happens in the other groups also affects Norway's chances of reaching the European Championship finals in 2026 – for better or worse. We will go into this in more detail in the analysis before Norway's final group match away against Montenegro.
The Norwegian Volleyball Federation has confirmed the squad for the European Championship Qualifiers against the Czech Republic at home on August 9 and away against Montenegro on August 17. There are some new faces in the squad since last time: Jakob Thelle is back after injury. Jo Sunde switched from beach volleyball to indoor volleyball last season. Mikal Kalstad had a good season in Førde and will play for CDV Río Duero Soria in Spain next season.
Wingers
- No. 1: Jonas Kvalen – National Team Captain (Panakonakos)
- No 4: Oskar Espeland (Knack Roeselare)
- No. 6: Mathias Loftenes (Oksil)
- No. 14: Jo Sunde (Lycurgus)
- No. 16: Mikal Kalstad (CDV Río Duero Soria)
Semi-trailers
- No. 3: Samson Olsen (TSV Joma)
- No. 8: Eivind Hettervik (Nordenskov UIF)
- No. 10: Jakob Thelle (BBTS Bielsko-Biala
Midfielders
- No. 5: Petter Østvik (BK Tromsø)
- No. 7: Rune Fasteland (CHKS Chelm)
- No. 11: Andreas Takvam (Zaksa)
Diagonal
- No. 18: Eirik Kvali (Koll IL)
- No. 31: Eirik Bjelland (TIF Viking)
Libero
- No. 15: Emil Olsen (University of Calgary Dinos)
- No. 17: Øysten Bergum (Koll IL)
Follow the men's national team on instagram: Men's national volleyball team
We at 90minutefamily wish Samson Olsen and the rest of the men's national volleyball team good luck with their preparations in Poland for the matches against the Czech Republic and Montenegro!
Written by: Fredrik Alstad Østvik
