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New York Times
07-05-2025
- Climate
- New York Times
A tiny ground in the Arctic Circle with a plastic pitch: Is this really a recipe for disaster for Spurs?
The circumstances for the Europa League semi-final first leg at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium were unusual for both sides. As a consequence of their club-record 19th Premier League defeat by Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur went into the tie sitting 16th in the table with just one league win in their last eight matches. Fulham and Middlesbrough — and indeed Manchester United, who look set to reach the showpiece game this year — have proven it's possible to reach the final of Europe's secondary competition while letting their league form slip, but their continental proficiency is at odds with a sustained domestic fragility. Bodo/Glimt, whose league season began on March 30, are in uncharted territory as Norway's first-ever representative in a European semi-final. They were also without their star player Patrick Berg and four other typical starters for the first leg due to injuries and suspensions. Still, for a side more accustomed to playing in sub-zero temperatures, the weather conditions in north London represented the most substantial shift. On the hottest first day of May in London since 1990, recorded temperatures reached as high as 29.3 degrees Celsius in the late afternoon. Back in Bodo, the conditions at kick-off time were around five degrees. For a fishing town just north of the Arctic Circle, anything above freezing is a welcome relief from the winter lows of -12. Hours before Glimt kicked off against Lazio in their quarter-final first leg, the artificial pitch at the Aspmyra Stadion was buried in thick snow. Tractors and snowploughs helped clear the surface before Glimt convincingly beat Lazio 2-0 in strong winds, accruing an expected goals tally of 3.02 and creating six big goalscoring chances. While Spurs head to Norway with a two-goal advantage, Glimt's mastery of the environment should bring some pause to any travelling fans who think this tie is settled. 'Yeah, we always back ourselves at home,' said Glimt defender Odin Bjortuft, speaking before the first leg. 'We have good confidence in our home pitch, but we also go with confidence to the away game. No matter what happens at Tottenham, we won't think the game is over until it's over.' Glimt have refined their approach on the road since long-term head coach Kjetil Knutsen first took them into Europe in 2020, becoming a more pragmatic outfit — but they are a different animal entirely in their own patch. They have only lost twice at Aspmyra in the past 12 months, a 3-2 defeat by Rosenborg and a 2-1 defeat by Azerbaijani side Qarabag in November — a match they dominated, amassing an xG of 2.76 compared to Qarabag's 0.74. In the knockout phase of the Europa League, they have scored 10 goals and conceded just twice at home, eliminating FC Twente, Olympiacos and Lazio en route to the semi-finals. They're more than just effective, Glimt play with a thrilling front-footed attacking verve that overwhelms opposition unfamiliar with their style and the conditions. While the temperature is forecasted to be a milder six degrees on Thursday evening and will not play as much of a factor as it has done in previous rounds, the compact 8,270 capacity stadium and artificial turf could be potential tie-swingers. 'There's no doubt (the artificial turf) is an advantage for us,' says Bjortuft, 'But at the same time, it's what you're used to. We train on this pitch every day, the same with the team we meet, they train on grass pitches every day. 'They have an advantage on us, and we have an advantage on them. I think it's evened out. But of course, playing here at home is a big advantage for us because I don't think a lot of teams are prepared for what's coming. We have managed to do this in a successful way. The ball goes really fast here, and that's a key object for us.' According to Bjortuft, the key difference on artificial turf is how quickly the ball moves along the ground. Lazio head coach Marco Baroni highlighted this in the previous round, describing the 'speed in their exchanges because of the artificial pitch' as a key component to Glimt's dominance in Norway. For a side that likes to play in their opponent's half and craft opportunities through slick combination passages, the pace of the pitch adds an effective zip to their attacking play. 'The ball goes really fast when you play passes and it's more difficult for defenders reaching attackers and getting contact with us,' says Bjortuft. 'That's what we benefit from in these games. Of course, it's a big difference between artificial and grass in many ways but the main key is that the ball goes so fast. It may be harder to turn and everything for players that are not used to it.' The surface has the potential to throw up similar complications to when fifth-tier Tamworth took Tottenham to extra time in the FA Cup third round in January. On that occasion, Ange Postecoglou arranged for his players to train on the artificial turf at their training ground to help prepare. Perhaps in response to their performance at the Lamb Ground, eventually progressing as 3-0 winners after their quality and fitness told in extra time, they will not make the same preparation for Glimt. The pitch at Aspmyra is a first-class surface, and due to the variability in plastic pitches, Postecoglou has planned to wait until they arrive in Norway to be exposed again to the artificial variety. And if the potential for a giant killing unsettled a rotated Spurs side in Tamworth, the energy in Bodo for the biggest night in the club's history could overwhelm them entirely — though a more senior outfit dealt with the atmosphere capably against Eintracht Frankfurt in the quarter-final. Despite a lack of long-term European pedigree, Glimt fans were not surprised to see their side dominate Lazio at home and carry that confidence into the terraces that squeeze the pitch at Aspmyra on Thursday night. 'It's a smaller stadium than they are used to,' says Bjortuft. 'It's really compact. And it's a city that stays together. We are really comfortable playing here, as many home teams are. 'I think we have a good backing from the town, and they are really positive, even if it goes south. It's a good feeling for us to have them on our back.' (Top photo: Michael Campanella – UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)
NBC Sports
06-05-2025
- Sport
- NBC Sports
How to watch Bodo/Glimt vs Tottenham Hotspur live: Stream link, TV channel, team news, prediction
Bodo/Glimt's fairytale run to the Europa League semifinals has been a joy to watch but Tottenham Hotspur aim to finish off the job on Thursday and reach the final in Bilbao. Trailing 3-1 from the first leg in north London last Thursday , Norwegian upstarts Bodo/Glimt know they are up against it. But they always have been and that hasn't fazed them so far, plus they have plenty of key players set to return for this second leg. The late goal they scored at Spurs last week could be crucial and Bodo/Glimt are very good at home, as their tiny Aspmyra Stadion holds just over 8,000 fans and has an artificial pitch which could level the playing fields significantly. In the knockout rounds of the Europa League they've won all three home games by an aggregate score of 10-2. An early goal for Bodo/Glimt will get Spurs' nerves jangling and create quite the stir in northern Norway. No team has ever overturned a two-goal deficit from the first leg of the Europa League semifinals to reach the final, but minnows Bodo/Glimt love proving everyone wrong. Spurs and Ange Postecoglou know they have more than one foot in the Europa League final in Bilbao where they will likely face Manchester United, a team they've already beaten three times in all competitions this season. That makes Spurs the favorites for this competition, just, but they have to finish off the job in Norway first. They were clinical and ruthless in the first half against Bodo/Glimt last week but Ange will have been disappointed with conceding a late goal and Spurs have suffered more injuries ahead of this second leg. Given their entire season depends on winning the Europa League the pressure is on, as they're set for their worst-ever finish in the Premier League. But that awful league season will not matter if they win this competition and get back into the UEFA Champions League. Remember: Ange always wins a trophy in his second season at a club... How to watch Bodo/Glimt vs Tottenham Hotspur live, stream link and start time Kick off time: 3pm ET Thursday (May 8) Venue: Aspmyra Stadion — Bodo TV Channel/Streaming: Paramount+ Captain Patrick Berg, plus midfielder Hakon Evjen and striker Andreas Helmersen are all available after being suspended for the first leg which is a big boost for Bodo/Glimt. Defenders Ole Blomberg and Daniel Bassi both missed the first leg through injury, while the reigning Norwegian champions haven't had a game since the first leg so have had a full week to prepare for the second leg. They will look to make Spurs uncomfortable and set pieces and counters will be crucial. An early goal for the hosts would change everything. Tottenham Hotspur team news, focus Spurs have lost Lucas Bergvall to injury, while James Maddison could also miss the rest of the season with a knee issue he picked up in the first leg. That is a real blow to Spurs' hopes of winning the Europa League as the midfield creativity from that duo has been key at crucial moments in this competition. Dominic Solanke should be fit to lead the line, while captain Heung-min Son is close to a return. Spurs rested plenty of key players in their draw at West Ham on Sunday as their full focus is on winning the Europa League. Their season comes down to this and it's all about holding their nerve and putting in a professional, solid display to reach the final. OUT: Radu Dragusin (torn ACL), Lucas Bergvall (ankle)| QUESTIONABLE: Heung-min Son (foot), James Maddison (knee), Dominic Solanke (thigh) Bodo/Glimt vs Tottenham Hotspur prediction This feels like it could get a bit dicey for Spurs after the late goal for Bodo/Glimt in the first leg. They will get through but this team never seem to make it easy. Bodo/Glimt 2-1 Tottenham Hotspur (Tottenham Hotspur win 4-3 on aggregate). Page 2
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Bodø/Glimt and friends return to Norway with Europa League dream alive
As the minutes ticked down, Bodø/Glimt's support broke out into a rendition of Venner, an earworm of a song by their much-loved celebrity fan Halvdan Sivertsen. The title means 'friends', its chorus the simplest but most glorious celebration of kinship and solidarity. 'Every time we meet, we have a good time; we are friends for life, these are the good things to have,' it runs. The hordes in yellow have had plenty of opportunities to revel together on a European run with few parallels; by the end they could dream, however faintly, of a reunion to end them all in Bilbao. What a curious occasion this ultimately proved to be, both teams' fanbases legitimately feeling able to cheer at full time and everyone getting what they came for to some degree. Tottenham have one foot in a season-defining final, that much is clear, and it would remain the biggest European upset of the modern era if Bodø/Glimt overturn this deficit in their idiosyncratic Aspmyra Stadion. But the tie remains open and, for Spurs, this must count as a wasted opportunity to offer their faithful the most relaxing of voyages to the Arctic Circle. Advertisement Related: 'One big dream': Bodø/Glimt's modern miracle built on history and humility The Norwegian contingent had made little secret of their ambitions. A two-goal reverse would be acceptable, the feeling universally went, given most opponents are driven to their wits' end on Aspmyra's artificial surface. Lazio lost there by exactly that margin last month. Restricting Spurs might take good fortune and matters had been complicated by a lengthy absentee list led by their influential captain, Patrick Berg. The task was to escape feeling at least the sensation of being alive. Bodø/Glimt were built to survive; to eke out a name regionally and then nationally in the face of prejudice that held them back until the 1970s. The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium was constructed to soar and scintillate; to help propel one of the world's financial behemoths into the stratosphere. It roared and reverberated on a close, expectant evening: if bigger games have been held here since its opening in 2019 there has certainly been no better atmosphere. Almost 59,000 white shirts resembled an avalanche in the stands. This was a chance to make something from a season that has offered next to nothing, and everyone knew it. Berg may have been kicking his heels, but Bodø/Glimt have a seven-strong leadership group and decide who will be captain for each game. It can depend on the likely scenario: a centre-forward may take the mantle for a match in which they hope to run up a scoreline. Here it felt tempting to throw an armband to each of their back four in a torrid opening that Spurs never quite exploited fully. Advertisement Brennan Johnson's opener within 40 seconds could, in more swaggering hands, have heralded a rout. Ange Postecoglou had dispensed with the niceties here, opting for power and long-range precision to batter Spurs through. Premier League physicality increasingly has a habit of trampling over almost everyone; Kjetil Knutsen's Bodø players are known for being running machines but could barely get a grip against Richarlison and Destiny Udogie on the left, Dominic Solanke a willing early out-ball in the middle and Tottenham's backline happy to provide the ammunition. James Maddison could have doubled the lead from one such radar-like pass by Cristian Romero; later he went one better from a similarly perceptive Pedro Porro ball. The visitors had shown signs of stabilising, working their smart patterns through midfield without getting far, but by half-time faced holding on to an acceptable size of deficit. Their only first-half opening fell to Ole Didrik Blomberg, who had been selected on account of their availability woes. Blomberg was signed for £1m from Brann in January; of their starters, only Jens Petter Hauge cost more. This was the difference at play here; the reason this north London fever had to be placed in its real context. Football's model is more hostile than ever to clubs like Bodø/Glimt, who live within means most Championship outfits would sniff at. They should not be here but it feels more important than ever that they are. Related: Tottenham firmly in driving seat despite Bodø/Glimt's unwelcome late reply Advertisement Solanke's penalty shortly after the hour gave Tottenham another opportunity to dismiss them rudely. But this is Spurs of 2025, the most capricious and skittish team in England's financially supreme top flight. Nobody is ever quite out of a game here. Opportunities to twist the knife came and went, some frustration on Bodø's side manifesting itself when Hauge belted away a scrap of litter in frustration after squandering a rare break. Then came another of the moments that will be sung about among companions for years. How appropriate that it was a deflected strike by Ulrik Saltnes, who joined Bodø/Glimt when they were fighting for survival almost a decade and a half ago, that prised open the door. On the touchline, Knutsen and his support staff erupted. In the far corner, 3,000 fans who had undertaken that long, long journey could finally lose their minds. Tottenham remain well placed to adopt the role of playground bully next Thursday but may yet be the latest to learn that, even against the bigger boys, friends can work sporting miracles.
The Guardian
01-05-2025
- Sport
- The Guardian
Bodø/Glimt and friends return to Norway with Europa League dream alive
As the minutes ticked down, Bodø/Glimt's support broke out into a rendition of Venner, an earworm of a song by their much-loved celebrity fan Halvdan Sivertsen. The title means 'friends', its chorus the simplest but most glorious celebration of kinship and solidarity. 'Every time we meet, we have a good time; we are friends for life, these are the good things to have,' it runs. The hordes in yellow have had plenty of opportunities to revel together on a European run with few parallels; by the end they could dream, however faintly, of a reunion to end them all in Bilbao. What a curious occasion this ultimately proved to be, both teams' fanbases legitimately feeling able to cheer at full time and everyone getting what they came for to some degree. Tottenham have one foot in a season-defining final, that much is clear, and it would remain the biggest European upset of the modern era if Bodø/Glimt overturn this deficit in their idiosyncratic Aspmyra Stadion. But the tie remains open and, for Spurs, this must count as a wasted opportunity to offer their faithful the most relaxing of voyages to the Arctic Circle. The Norwegian contingent had made little secret of their ambitions. A two-goal reverse would be acceptable, the feeling universally went, given most opponents are driven to their wits' end on Aspmyra's artificial surface. Lazio lost there by exactly that margin last month. Restricting Spurs might take good fortune and matters had been complicated by a lengthy absentee list led by their influential captain, Patrick Berg. The task was to escape feeling at least the sensation of being alive. Bodø/Glimt were built to survive; to eke out a name regionally and then nationally in the face of prejudice that held them back until the 1970s. The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium was constructed to soar and scintillate; to help propel one of the world's financial behemoths into the stratosphere. It roared and reverberated on a close, expectant evening: if bigger games have been held here since its opening in 2019 there has certainly been no better atmosphere. Almost 59,000 white shirts resembled an avalanche in the stands. This was a chance to make something from a season that has offered next to nothing, and everyone knew it. Berg may have been kicking his heels, but Bodø/Glimt have a seven-strong leadership group and decide who will be captain for each game. It can depend on the likely scenario: a centre-forward may take the mantle for a match in which they hope to run up a scoreline. Here it felt tempting to throw an armband to each of their back four in a torrid opening that Spurs never quite exploited fully. Brennan Johnson's opener within 40 seconds could, in more swaggering hands, have heralded a rout. Ange Postecoglou had dispensed with the niceties here, opting for power and long-range precision to batter Spurs through. Premier League physicality increasingly has a habit of trampling over almost everyone; Kjetil Knutsen's Bodø players are known for being running machines but could barely get a grip against Richarlison and Destiny Udogie on the left, Dominic Solanke a willing early out-ball in the middle and Tottenham's backline happy to provide the ammunition. James Maddison could have doubled the lead from one such radar-like pass by Cristian Romero; later he went one better from a similarly perceptive Pedro Porro ball. The visitors had shown signs of stabilising, working their smart patterns through midfield without getting far, but by half-time faced holding on to an acceptable size of deficit. Their only first-half opening fell to Ole Didrik Blomberg, who had been selected on account of their availability woes. Blomberg was signed for £1m from Brann in January; of their starters, only Jens Petter Hauge cost more. This was the difference at play here; the reason this north London fever had to be placed in its real context. Football's model is more hostile than ever to clubs like Bodø/Glimt, who live within means most Championship outfits would sniff at. They should not be here but it feels more important than ever that they are. Sign up to Football Daily Kick off your evenings with the Guardian's take on the world of football after newsletter promotion Solanke's penalty shortly after the hour gave Tottenham another opportunity to dismiss them rudely. But this is Spurs of 2025, the most capricious and skittish team in England's financially supreme top flight. Nobody is ever quite out of a game here. Opportunities to twist the knife came and went, some frustration on Bodø's side manifesting itself when Hauge belted away a scrap of litter in frustration after squandering a rare break. Then came another of the moments that will be sung about among companions for years. How appropriate that it was a deflected strike by Ulrik Saltnes, who joined Bodø/Glimt when they were fighting for survival almost a decade and a half ago, that prised open the door. On the touchline, Knutsen and his support staff erupted. In the far corner, 3,000 fans who had undertaken that long, long journey could finally lose their minds. Tottenham remain well placed to adopt the role of playground bully next Thursday but may yet be the latest to learn that, even against the bigger boys, friends can work sporting miracles.
Daily Mirror
01-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Tottenham handed surprise Europa League boost after Bodo/Glimt's major error
Tottenham will take on Bodo/Glimt in the last four of the Europa League with the Norwegian outfit missing several key players are their failure to understand the yellow card rules Bodo/Glimt made a monumental error in the last eight of the Europa League and will have a host of players suspended for their semi-final. When they head to Tottenham on Thursday night, some big names will be missing after they stuffed up regarding the rules around yellow cards. The Norwegian side knocked out Lazio in the quarter-finals and now have a final place on the horizon ahead of the first-leg in north London. However they'll have to get a result in the English capital without influential captain Patrick Berg, who is suspended. Hakon Evjen, who plays in midfield, is also ruled out for the same reason. Andreas Helmersen, the scorer of a vital goal in extra time against Lazio in the last eight, is another player banned after he was sent off at the Stadio Olimpico. The biggest blunder though on the part of Bodo/Glimt was their failure to understand the yellow card rule - and when they were considered redundant. They thought that their players could get booked against Lazio but still be ok to play against Tottenham. However UEFA rules, Article 52.04 states: "All yellow cards expire on completion of the quarter-finals. They are not carried forward to the semi-finals." Given the likes of Berg and Evjen were booked during the quarter-final tie they have to face suspensions. That is not the case for Tottenham, who had several players right on the cusp of suspension, but they are now able to play more freely. Yves Bissouma, Dejan Kulusevski and Lucas Bergvall had been shown two yellows in the competition, but they've now been scrapped. Bodo/Glimt finished ninth in the league phase, meaning they were the highest ranked side who still had to negotiate the knockout play-off round. They beat Twente after extra-time and down Olympiacos in the round of 16. Lazio were knocked out on penalties. Tottenham meanwhile have been able to perform in the Europa League despite a dire Premier League campaign. They will finish narrowly above the relegation zone but victory in this tournament could land them an unlikely spot in the Champions League. Ange Postecoglou is under huge pressure amid suggestions he will be axed in the summer. Despite that the Australian could end the club's trophy drought with success in Europe. Tottenham have been AZ Alkmaar and Frankfurt en route to the last four. Postecoglou said ahead of the clash with the Norwegian outfit: "You [the media] would love us to say that Bodo are a small club, but they are here on merit. I don't underestimate anyone and they've earned the right to be here."
