OSLO, September 4, 2024 – The 2024 European Football Championship remains a hot topic among football experts and fans worldwide. During a recent visit to Oslo, I spoke with Karl Petter Løken, the Secretary General of the Norwegian Football Federation (NFF), who shared his insights on the tournament and the performance of the Georgian national team.
WHO IS KARL? Karl Løken, who played for Rosenborg from 1985 to 1996, is a respected figure in Norwegian football. During his career, he won the Norwegian championship seven times, secured four national cups, and was the league's top scorer once. Løken also represented Norway at the national level from 1987 to 1995 and was part of the squad for the 1994 World Cup, although an injury prevented him from playing. After retiring from football, he became a popular TV commentator and, since the beginning of 2023, he was appointed Secretary General of the NFF.
- How do you assess the level of the 2024 European Championship and Georgia's performance?
"First and foremost, I want to sincerely congratulate the Georgian national team on their fantastic and beautiful performance at the European Championship in Germany. Although they were eliminated in the Round of 16 by Spain, who went on to become the European champions, Georgia played a spectacular game throughout the tournament. They won the hearts of spectators and experts alike with their style of play. The European Championship was a high-caliber tournament, and it was great to see smaller nations, like Georgia, making a strong impact. Georgia performed admirably in the group stage and deservedly reached the Round of 16."
- What are your thoughts on the chances of the Georgian and Norwegian national teams qualifying for the 2026 World Cup?
"Qualifying for the World Cup will be much more challenging than the European Championship. We must remember that only 16 European teams will make it to the World Cup, compared to 24 that competed in the European Championship. Both Georgia and Norway will face tough competition to secure a spot in the 2026 World Cup. Much will depend on the upcoming draw for the qualifying tournament, which will determine who plays whom.
