Friendly in Gothenburg, July 12, 1908 ===================================== Sweden - Norway 11-3 (5-2) GIF's grusplan Att: 3.000 Goals: Börjesson (4), E. Bergström (4), K. Gustafsson (3), Sweden, Bøhn (2), Endrerud, Norway. Referee: C. Smith, England. Line-ups -------- Sweden (2-3-5): Ove Eriksson - Th. Malm, Nils Andersson - S. Olsson, H. Lindman, Tor Eriksson - Gustaf Bergström, Erik Bergström, E. Börjesson, Karl Gustafsson, K. Ansén. Norway (2-3-5): Sverre Lie (Mercantile) - Macken Widerøe Aas (Mercantile), Wilhelm Brekke (Mercantile) - Harald Johansen (Mercantile), Poul Houman (Mercantile), Arvid Arisholm (Mercantile) - Fridthjof Skonnord (Gjøvik/Lyn), Victor Nysted (Lyn), Hans Endrerud (Mercantile), Norman "Minotti" Bøhn (Mercantile), Trygve Gran (Mercantile). Match report (courtesy of Kjell Hanssen, translated by Lars Aarhus) ------------ In the early summer of 1908 a letter arrived at the Norwegian Football Association (NFF) regarding a national team game with Sweden. The vice-president of NFF immediately rushed away with the letter to the playing field where the Mercantile players were practicing. At the time Mercantile were the best football club in Norway. The letter from the Swedish FA was closely studied by both the vice-president and the Mercantile players. However, one thing remained unclear. According to the letter the game should be played on "sandolan". That word was not understood until a bright head suggested that the "o" really should be a "p". Alas, the game should be played on "sandplan", i.e. clay in English. On July 12th a proud squad of Norwegian footballers entered the groud in Gothenburg in what was to be the first Norwegian national team game ever. The game was also a first one for the Swedes, but there the development of the game of football had come further than in Norway, as the result was soon about to show. Players from Mercantile made up the backbone in this first ever Norwegian national team. This was because of the supremacy of Mercantile in Norwegian club football at the time. The Norwegian players lined up in red and hvite shirts and blue shorts, including the goal keeper! The Norwegian captain, Endrerud, kicked off in this historical game, and played the ball to his good friend, Notti Bøhn. Notti dribled past a couple of Swedes, and cut through the defence. The Swedish goal keeper rushed out, but Bøhn coolly lobbed the ball over him and into the empty goal. Norway had taken the lead before 30 seconds had elapsed on the clock. What a start to the Norwegian national team history! But then, it was inevitable over. The Swedes attacked relentlessly, and among others missed two penalty kicks! After 15 minutes the hosts finally equalized, and for the next minutes ball after ball ended up in the Norwegian goal. However, shortly before half time, Endrerud, was left unmarked at the far post, and he could easily score Norway's second goal. At half time the score was 2-5. In the second half the Swedes were also much the better team, and in the end they won 11-3. Norway's third goal was scored by Bøhn, on a fantastic long range shot. The playing styles used by the two countries were very different. The Norwegians played what was known as longpassing (sounds familiar :-)), whereas the Swedes used many moves and shortpassing. Of the Norwegian players, the efforts of Bøhn and Houman in particular were frequently mentioned in the media. The latter was a Belgian, who went back to his home country soon after this national team game. Thus, Houman is the only foreigner to have played an official national team game for Norway!