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Penalty Specialist Tangvik Could Be World Cup Joker for Norway
🇳🇴 Norway /Sports

Penalty Specialist Tangvik Could Be World Cup Joker for Norway

From Aftenposten · () Norwegian

Translated from Norwegian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Context piece
  • Norway's third-string goalkeeper Sander Tangvik, who has not yet debuted for the national team, possesses a unique penalty-saving expertise valuable for the World Cup.
  • Tangvik has an impressive record, saving six out of 13 penalties faced for Rosenborg and Hamburger SV since 2023.
  • Coach Ståle Solbakken suggested he likely won't use Tangvik for penalty shootouts, preferring to utilize all six allowed substitutions during regular play.

Despite never having played for Norway's senior national team, 23-year-old goalkeeper Sander Tangvik is emerging as a potential wildcard for the World Cup due to his exceptional penalty-saving abilities. Tangvik, currently the only player in the squad without a senior international cap, has demonstrated a remarkable proficiency in stopping penalty kicks.

I don't hate getting penalties against me, you could say that. But no, it's a mix of analysis and maybe being calm and composed in the moment then.

— Sander TangvikDescribing his approach to facing penalties.

Since becoming a regular starter for Rosenborg in 2023, Tangvik has compiled a penalty-saving record that few can match. For both Rosenborg and his current club Hamburger SV, he has saved six out of the 13 penalties he has faced. Tangvik expressed surprise at the specific statistics presented to him but acknowledged his effectiveness, attributing it to a mix of analysis and composure in high-pressure moments.

The article draws a parallel to Louis van Gaal's tactical substitution of goalkeeper Tim Krul in the 2014 World Cup quarter-final, where Krul's saves propelled the Netherlands forward. This raises the question of whether Norway's coach, Ståle Solbakken, would consider a similar move with Tangvik, especially if a match heads to a penalty shootout.

It's difficult to answer. It's a bit of chance and a good mix of me being a calm type who is composed in those moments. So I like to look a bit at who might shoot, where they shoot and what they like to do.

— Sander TangvikReflecting on the reasons behind his penalty-saving success.

However, Solbakken appeared hesitant to commit to such a strategy. When asked directly about the possibility of substituting Tangvik for a shootout, Solbakken suggested it was unlikely, citing the potential for six substitutions allowed under new rules. "I don't think we'll get there, because I'm almost one hundred percent sure there will be six substitutions," Solbakken stated, implying a preference for using all available player changes during the match itself rather than for a specific shootout scenario. First-choice goalkeeper Ørjan Nyland has saved seven of 37 professional career penalties.

I don't think we'll get there, because I'm almost one hundred percent sure there will be six substitutions.

— Ståle SolbakkenCoach's response regarding the likelihood of using a substitute goalkeeper for a penalty shootout.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Aftenposten in Norwegian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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