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Daily Mail
08-05-2025
- Climate
- Daily Mail
Tottenham's trip to the Arctic Circle: Why Spurs fear a giant-killing in town of 40,000 where fans are trading tickets for fish and reindeer meat
Having secured a 3-1 lead in the first leg of their Europa League semi-final against Bodo/Glimt, many would make Tottenham clear favourites to progress past their Norwegian opponents and take a major step towards silverware. There are some, however, who are fearing Ange Postecoglou 's side could become the latest to suffer a giant killing on a unique trip into the Arctic Circle. In 10 home ties in this European campaign, which started in July in the Champions League qualifiers, the Norwegian champions have won nine. This has included victories against established clubs such as Lazio, Olympiacos, Twente, Besiktas and Red Star. Three years ago, they beat Roma 6-1 after knocking out Postecoglou's Celtic. Part of their success in Europe, where they have won 28 of their last 34 home games, has been put down to the artificial surface at the 8,270-capacity Aspmyra Stadium in the Norwegian fishing town. 'We are a good football team first and foremost. Like most teams, we are better at home than away,' said Bodo/Glimt boss Kjetil Knutsen. 'The grass we have is what we play on. It's due to the climate. And the more you play on it the better you get. At home, over time, we have learned to trust in ourselves. It's a good pitch and good players can easily adapt.' Despite struggling on a artificial pitch in an FA Cup third round tie at non-league Tamworth in January, Postecoglou's side opted to only train on a plastic surface on Wednesday at the Norwegian side's stadium. Tottenham do look set to benefit from warmer weather conditions than many of the sides to have fallen to Bodo/Glimt so far in Europe. Sub-zero temperatures had led to snow needing to be cleared in the build-up to their quarter-final tie against Lazio last month. However, the temperature is expected to be around 5C by kick-off time, although Spurs may have to tackle windy conditions due to the town's location on the coast. While the conditions might be more hospitable, some locals made an attempt to create some unease for their Premier League visitors by setting off fireworks outside the Tottenham hotel at around 2.37am. 'The perpetrators were observed running from the scene,' a police statement read. 'When the police arrived they found several rocket batteries. Some were not lit. 'These were taken by the police, in order to maintain peace and order.' With the fishing town of Bodo, located around 1,000 kilometres north of the capital Olso, having a population of around 40,000 the club's rise over recent years has been remarkable. Ulrik Saltnes, who scored their crucial late goal in the first leg, claimed earlier this year that the club was effectively semi-professional when he signed in 2011 but is now run like an elite outfit. Having been relegated to the second tier in 2017, the club bounced back the following year before emerging as Norway's dominant force by claiming the domestic title in 2020, 2021, 2023 and 2024. The appointment of a former Norwegian Air Force pilot, Bjørn Mannsverk, as a mental coach in 2017 was reportedly a key moment. Mannsverk told the Associated Press his role was to help players talk openly about their feelings and reduce stress levels, having found the the squad suffered from 'a collective mental breakdown' in matches during their relegation season. Mannsverk, whose duties in the Norwegian air force took him to Afghanistan after the 9/11 attacks and to Libya for a NATO-led intervention in 2011, explained his squadron had been subject to a mental training project in 2010 where the focus was on meditation and 'every day repeating boring stuff, but with 100 per cent attention.' The training reportedly helped them perform dangerous missions in Libya, with his squadron's mantra of 'train as you intend to fight' working. 'Even though I got strong feelings when my first bombs hit the target and it was in infernal flames and fragments and everything,' Mannsverk said. 'It was like, "My training said that it´s OK, this is happening, recognize that, but know I have to return and do my job."' Mannsverk would move across to Bodo/Glimt to help improve the team's 'mental conditioning', with members of the club's leadership coming across the squadron due the town until recently being home to a NATO air base. Mannsverk's techniques - which include meditation, one-on-one sessions and group meetings - were said to have helped Saltnes overcome stress-related stomach issues that flared up around matches, with the midfielder having previously considered retiring. As the club have enjoyed domestic success and have made strides in Europe in recent years, they have also sought to make an impact away from the football pitch. Since 2019, the club have had a project titled Action Now which has attempted to raise awareness of key issues such as climate change and promote sustainable practices. All members of the club are involved in the project, with the club's academy teams - down to their under-13s - choosing specific sustainability goals to support each season. Activities have included clearing up beaches and raising awareness of reducing the amount of plastic in the oceans. The club have had Action Now featured on their kits, which the club state have been produced by Puma with sustainable materials. Given the appetite to watch the semi-final, locals have been battling in any way they can to secure tickets for Thursday night's match, with some selling fish and reindeer meat in order to get a seat. Torbjorn Eide, a production boss at a fish farm in Torsken, told Norway's state broadcaster NRK that he offered five kilograms of semi-fried boknafisk for a ticket. The haul of fish, worth around £181, managed to tempt a fellow fan into giving up their seat. 'We produce Norway's best bokna fish, and it may not be possible to get it in Bodo city (which is eight hours away). So I thought maybe someone would like it, Eide said. 'You know, those of us who work in fishing are often creative. I didn't really think it would work, but then a guy showed up who wanted to try boknafisk.' Boknafish, which is typically cod, is partially dried in the cold outdoors and is a traditional dish in northern Norway. Oystein Aanes, who bought the fish, told NRK: 'It was just a funny thing. The ticket was actually for my brother, who was supposed to travel from Oslo, but he didn't make it anyway. 'I've never bought bokna fish before, I don't even know how to prepare it. The fish is for my mother, so she can take care of it.' Another fan, Nils Erik Oskal, was inspired by the fish trade so thought he would try his luck with reindeer meat. 'I was number 40,000 in the queue or something. I had some extra meat to spare,' he told NRK. 'I thought it must be possible to do it with reindeer meat. Someone was munching on it. It didn't take long. It wasn't a cheap ticket considering what reindeer meat usually costs. But it's really the same thing, I get to experience something great.' Fans will look to cheer on Bodo/Glimt players with giant yellow toothbrushes, which became a tradition association with the club back in the 1970s For those lucky enough to get a ticket, the likelihood is they will be waving one a giant yellow toothbrush, something that has been a tradition at the club since the 1970s. The tradition emerged after the country's biggest dental company Jordan offered fans a sponsorship, after spotting how fan leaders had used toothbrushes to conduct singing. Bodo/Glimt typically give a normal sized yellow toothbrush to the visiting team's captain ahead of matches. In the absence of Son Heung-min due to injury, that honour looks set to fall to Cristian Romero. Tottenham will be hoping it will be a token on a successful journey to Bilbao, while Bodo/Glimt aim to make it the last prized possession Spurs receive in the competition this year.
Daily Mail
07-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Bodo/Glimt's artificial surface will give Ange Postecoglou cause for caution, writes MATT BARLOW as Tottenham gear up for their crucial Europa League semi-final second leg in Norway
The green rectangle of plastic grass glistened with no hint of the demons said to be lurking within and the Bodo/Glimt players fizzed passes about on a surface slick with Arctic drizzle. Around them, workers were busy adorning the Aspmyra Stadium with the final trimmings for its biggest night, fixing UEFA branding in the appropriate areas and running TV cables around the simple stands. Beyond that, the stillness of a Norwegian fishing town where day broke at 3am, the calls of the gulls, the rumble of a tractor spreading rubber crumb over an artificial training pitch and the occasional fighter jet tearing through the sky on a training exercise. Little else stirred in Bodo as Tottenham descended. The Champions League determined its two finalists amid the trembling passion of the San Siro and Parc des Princes. There will be 80,000 inside Old Trafford willing Manchester United to beat Athletic Bilbao. Here, the anticipation came with a little Scandinavian understatement. With yellow flags on display outside buildings, fluttering from lampposts, on display in the windows of shops and porches. 'It is a historic football match and we want the main role,' said Bodo/Glimt boss Kjetil Knutsen. His team trail 3-1 after the first leg but a late goal in London fuelled hope and they have faith in the Aspmyra with its League Two vibe and capacity of 8,000. 'We are at home, we have the town behind us,' Knutsen added. Midfielder Jens Petter Hauge, who joined AC Milan from Bodo in 2020 and won the Europa League with Eintracht Frankfurt before returning to his hometown club last year, said: 'No matter where you go or who you meet, in the garage or the mall, everyone is looking forward to it and everyone says they've tried to get tickets and it's impossible.' Tottenham dominated last week and were worth their lead, despite disparaging post-match comments from Bodo right-back Fredrik Sjovold who claimed the Premier League team's attempts to press them into mistakes were 'ræva', meaning 'very bad' in its most polite translation, and that he had played against better in Norwegian football. Knutsen brushed it aside, putting it down to Sjovold's 'inexperience' and yet it has become a talking point in Norway, where there is a feeling that Ange Postecoglou's team were nothing special and are now without James Maddison, ruled out for three months with a knee injury he suffered in the first leg. Bodo, with key players including captain Patrick Berg back from suspension, believe they are not out of this tie, especially if they score first in the Aspmyra, where the home record is so formidable. In 10 home ties in this European campaign, which started in July in the Champions League qualifiers, the Norwegian champions have won nine, including victories against established clubs such as Lazio, Olympiacos, Twente, Besiktas and Red Star. Three years ago, they beat Roma 6-1 after knocking out Postecoglou's Celtic. The artificial pitch has been criticised, and Knutsen hit back, saying: 'We are a good football team first and foremost. Like most teams, we are better at home than away. The grass we have is what we play on. It's due to the climate. And the more you play on it the better you get. At home, over time, we have learned to trust in ourselves. It's a good pitch and good players can easily adapt.' The last time Tottenham played on an artificial pitch was in the FA Cup at Tamworth, when they needed extra-time to see off fifth-tier opposition, and Postecoglou opted against using artificial surfaces at the training ground before travelling to Norway, claiming there was little point because they were all different. Goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario, who didn't play at Tamworth, said it was probably five years since he played on one, but nobody appeared too perturbed as they trained in Bodo last night. The story behind Bodo/Glimt's name Bodo is the name of the town in northern Norway and Glimt means flash. When they were formed in 1916 they were simply known as Glimt but added the Bodo in the middle of the 20th Century because another team had the same nickname. Originally, they used a dash between the words but changed it to the unique forward slash because the dash led to confusion when the fixtures were printed on the pools. Since their rise to international prominence after winning their first Norwegian title in 2020, Bodo/Glimt has become one of the most recognisable names in European football. 'It's obviously different,' said Postecoglou. 'Whether it's the pitch, the atmosphere, the conditions, there's always challenges to overcome it, and we'll do that.' Spurs can take comfort from the victory at Eintracht Frankfurt in the quarter final and the knowledge they are inching closer to a first major trophy since 2008, and a ticket to rejoin Europe's elite. And Postecoglou was undeterred by former Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger, now FIFA's chief of global football development, who claimed the Europa League winners should not go into the Champions League as they have for the last 10 years. 'Spurs does crazy things to people,' scoffed Postecoglou. 'Put that club into any sentence and invariably they all come out and try to diminish us as much as they can. Why wasn't it an issue before but it is now? 'Last year, fifth didn't get you into the Champions League and now it does. What does that mean? There are competition rules and it's not the first year. I've got great respect for Arsene, he's one of the legends of the game but Spurs does crazy things to people, I love it.'
New York Times
07-05-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Europa League semi-final betting: Can Tottenham survive an Arctic scare at Bodo/Glimt?
For more stories like this click here to follow The Athletic's sports betting section and have them added to your feed. The second leg of the UEFA Europa League semi-final kicks off Thursday, with Tottenham travelling to Norway to face a dangerous Bodo/Glimt side just 90 minutes away from making history. The North Londoners hold a 3-1 lead after the first leg, but injuries to key players and a tough away environment mean this tie is far from over. With a place in the final in Bilbao on the line, there's plenty for punters to sink their teeth into. From goal threat analysis to tactical shifts, here's everything you need to know before placing your bets. Arctic threat: Why Glimt are underdogs to watch At the start of the season, Ange Postecoglou confidently claimed he 'always wins things in his second year' with a club. Bookmakers seem to back that prophecy, with Spurs entering the second leg as unanimous betting favourites. The Lilywhites may hold a two-goal cushion, but they travel to Norway on Thursday to face a side famously tough to beat at home. In European competition, Glimt have built a reputation for unsettling bigger clubs in their frigid fortress: the Aspmyra Stadion. Kjetil Knutsen's men proved as much by beating Lazio by two goals in the quarter-final first leg, and then held their nerve to advance on penalties in Rome. Momentum is also on Glimt's side. Ulrik Saltnes' late goal in London wasn't just a consolation, but a psychological blow. It gave the Norwegians belief and ensured Spurs left the first leg feeling slightly uneasy about their efforts. Heading into a hostile environment seven days on with that goal fresh in the collective mind only increases the pressure on the squad. A heavily depleted squad for the visitors also warrants a mention as Spurs are literally and figuratively attempting to limp their way to the final. Lucas Bergvall is out for the season with an ankle injury, James Maddison's knee issue has no clear return date, and while Son Heung-min has resumed individual training, he remains a doubt after missing four games in all competitions. Postecoglou has even hinted he may not play again this campaign. Another challenge for Spurs is the artificial turf at Aspmyra Stadion. While the home team is used to it, the Englishmen are not. So, was Postecoglou's September swagger premature? Perhaps. If Glimt pull off the upset, Spurs' trophy cabinet will remain as bare and unforgiving as the Arctic cold. Spurs are bland in the league — but spicy in Europe Despite Spurs' injury setbacks and poor domestic form, they've been a different beast in the Europa League — and there's a clear roadmap for how they can finish the job in Norway. It starts with tactical decisiveness. In the first leg, Postecoglou leaned into physicality and experience rather than youthful flair, and it paid off. The 59-year-old handed Richarlison his first start on the left since October 2023, favouring the Brazilian's power over the consistency of youngsters Wilson Odobert and Mathys Tel. That choice was vindicated 38 seconds in; Richarlison soared past his marker to win a header, teeing up Brennan Johnson for the opener. It was a classic example of going for proven strength in big moments — something Spurs may rely on in the second leg. The fastest ever goal in a Europa League semi-final ⚡️ Brennan Johnson in 38 seconds ⏱️ — Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) May 2, 2025 Yves Bissouma was another inspired selection. Preferred over Pape Matar Sarr in midfield, the 28-year-old used his steely grit to keep a lid on the game's tempo. Then there's Spurs' shift in style. While Postecoglou's side typically avoids long balls in the Premier League — they've played the fewest of any team this season with 1,208 — they've been more pragmatic, and direct in Europe. The opener against Eintracht Frankfurt came from a Cristian Romero ball over the top to Maddison, drawing a penalty after the goalkeeper took out the 28-year-old. Last week against Glimt, a similar long-range pass nearly produced a second goal in the sixth minute, which would've gone in if Maddison's volley didn't sail over the crossbar. If Spurs want to neutralize Glimt's press, long, direct passes could be key. Even without Maddison on the end of them, Solanke and Johnson have the movement and pace to exploit gaps in defence, especially if the Norwegians push high from the outset. Overall, Postecoglou's side may appear battered, but they're also battle-tested. With the right blend of pace, strength and belief, they have the tools to freeze Glimt's fairytale in its tracks — and extend their own. What the first leg exposed – and how to bet on the second Spurs were tactically sharp in the first leg. Maddison man-marked midfielder Sondre Brunstad Fet while Johnson and Richarlison pressed high to pin Glimt's full-backs. The press was aggressive, often involving five or six players cutting off passing angles. But without Maddison's intelligence, Fet may dictate more in the second leg, which could tilt midfield control in the home team's favour and affect the overs market. Additionally, in the first leg, Glimt responded to conceding early by pushing their centre-backs forward into open space left by Fet. If Spurs' press is even slightly looser in the second leg, expect Glimt's backline to step into midfield and build momentum early. That tactical wrinkle adds weight to both teams to score at 1/2. Both sides showed attacking threat in London, and Spurs' injuries only increase the chances of another open affair. For those backing a quick start, both teams to score in the first half at 5/2 offers solid value, especially if Glimt come flying out. As for goalscorers, Dominic Solanke (17/10) is most likely to strike according to bookmakers. Richarlison (9/5) remains a counter-attacking threat, while Kasper Høgh (21/10) offers longer-odds value depending on who gets the nod to start. Bottom line: with Spurs missing key pieces and Glimt chasing the game at home, don't rule out fireworks at both ends. More Europa League stories Betting/Odds links in this article are provided by partners of The Athletic. Restrictions may apply. The Athletic maintains full editorial independence. Partners have no control over or input into the reporting or editing process and do not review stories before publication. (Photo of Dominic Solanke : Richard Heathcote / Getty Images)
Daily Mirror
01-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Why Tottenham's Europa League semi-final opponents Bodo/Glimt have a slash in their name
Before Tottenham Hotspur's credentials are questioned by the football world, many fans are wondering why Bodo/Glimt have a slash in their name A quick glance at the scoreboard and fans may be curious to see a slash in Bodo/Glimt's name. The Norwegian giants have once again punched above their weight in the Europa League this season. They have already seen off Europa Conference League winners Olympiacos and overcame Lazio in a penalty shoot-out. Kjetil Knutsen's side will be looking to add Tottenham to their list of European scalps and will travel to north London for the first-leg of their semi-final clash. Many fans will be wondering if Ange Postecoglou's side will have the stomach to deal with the pressure of facing the dangerous Nordics. The Europa League has been Tottenham's sanctuary this season, having lost 19 of their 34 Premier League matches this season. But before the football world can turn their attention to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, they may be curious as to why the Norwegian side have a slash within their team name. The origins are grounded in northern Norway, in the town of Bodo which is believed to be home to just under 55,000 people - nearly 8,000 less than the stadium capacity of Spurs' home ground. Initially, the town football team was simply known as Glimt, which is 'Flash' when translated from Norwegian to English. In the 1940s, another football team within the town formed and they referred to themselves with the same name. To try and alleviate the confusion, the team then changed their name to 'Bodo-Glimt'. If anything, the hyphenation caused even more befuddlement, particularly when it came to newspaper readers and gamblers, who assumed 'Bodo-Glimt' was a match between two football teams, when they saw the team name in the paper listings and betting slips. The football team decided it was time to say an abrupt goodbye to the hyphen and hello to the lesser used forward slash. Not long after, the official team name became 'Bodo/Glimt' as it is still referred to today. They will be hoping to slash Tottenham's hopes of reaching the Europa League final by securing a constructive result in north London to take back to Bodo for the second-leg. In 2021, the Scandinavians left one former Tottenham manager Jose Mourinho shell-shocked. They destroyed the Special One's AS Roma side 6-1 in the Europa Conference League. As well as Mourinho, Knutsen has also emerged victorious in both matches he has had against Postecoglou. In 2022, Bodo/Glimt did the double over Celtic in the Europa Conference League knockout-round play-off tie, destroying the Scots home and away with an impressive 5-1 aggregate score-line. A repeat would be disastrous for Postecoglou, who is believed to be on thin ice as a result of Tottenham's chastening form in the Premier League. The Europa League is the Australian's lifeline, as victory in the competition would not only book Spurs a place in next season's Champions League, it will also see them win their first trophy since 2008. When asked about his opponents, he said: "Bodo are there on merit. "They beat Lazio, Olympiacos. They're tough teams. I'm from the other side of the world. It doesn't matter where you're from. We're going to treat them with the respect they deserve and give our best." Join our new MAN UTD WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Manchester United content from Mirror Football. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
BBC News
30-04-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
'I know Postecoglou - but it is a totally different game'
Tottenham's Europa League semi-final against Bodo/Glimt will not be the first time boss Ange Postecoglou has come up against the Norwegian Celtic team were comprehensively beaten in the Conference League in 2021-22, losing 3-1 at home and 2-0 away to exit 5-1 on Bodo/Glimt manager from that time Kjetil Knutsen remains in charge and is looking forward to facing Postecoglou again."I know the coach, but it is a totally different game," he said."We need to play with a perfect defence on Thursday because they have a lot of rotations and really good individuals. [They will create] a lot of situations in our box. We have played good games against them, but I think Tottenham is a better team than Celtic."I really hope the players are not thinking about the occasion and are able to play the game, but it is not easy. We have a journey where we want to find our identity in every game, home and away - even against good teams. "That is part of the plan on Thursday."Full commentary of Tottenham v Bodo/Glimt on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra from 20:00 BST on Thursday
