Read 3 minutesNew Delhi6 Jul 2026 01:04 PM IST
Knocking Brazil, the five-time world champions since 1990, out of the World Cup is not the bravest thing Norwegian coach Stel Solbakken has done in his life.
Born on the banks of the longest Norwegian river, Gloma, the 58-year-old cheated death once in 2001 when he suffered a heart attack and was clinically dead for seven minutes before being revived.
In Norse history, the Helgi Cycle describes a heroic tale where names, love, and fate seem to repeat themselves throughout life.
On Sunday, Solbakken proved that the Helgi cycle is more than just folklore. He defeated Brazil twice, once before his near-death experience in 1998 and the second time in the round of 16 of the 2026 FIFA WC.
The 2–1 score line was a repeat of the 1998 edition when Norway came back from 0–1 down and Solbakken was also in the side but as an unused substitute.
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Five-time world champions Brazil have played more than 1000 international matches and faced 88 opponents in their illustrious history but like every other great sports team they have an antidote, a kryptonite: the Vikings from the land of the midnight sun.
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The Samba Boys have played five times against Norway in the international arena, drawing twice and losing three times.
“I think all Norwegians are in for the night of a lifetime,” Solbacken said. “Some people say we’ve changed Norway forever. They’ll party all week.”
But years before he made history with his Vikings side on Sunday, Solbakken had a ‘near-death’ experience.
Seven minutes dead
While playing for Danish side Copenhagen in 2001, Solbakken suffered a heart attack on the training ground and was medically dead after his heart stopped beating for 12 minutes, according to Marca English.
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“My teammates saw me collapse, die and come back to life,” Soulbacked told Marca English. “My mother started organizing my funeral. At first she was worried whether I would survive; later, whether I would suffer brain damage. These thoughts were troubling my family.”
The Copenhagen team doctor, Frank Odgaard, then performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation and external cardiac massage on him until an ambulance arrived, and then used a defibrillator to restart his heart.
The next day, he admitted that it was a miracle that Solbakken’s heart stopped beating.
That day is erased from Solbakken’s memory as he only remembers regaining consciousness in the intensive care unit of the Rigshospitalet.
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“At first I couldn’t see anything, just complete darkness. Then a light blue appeared… let’s call it a tunnel. It was a beautiful light. When they woke me up, I thought: “Oh no, can I stay there a little longer?”. I have no explanation for what I saw,” Solbakkan recalled.
Solbakken rushed to the stands to find his wife, Anniken, when Norway secured their first knock-out spot in 28 years after defeating Senegal at the tournament.
After finding her, the former midfielder kissed her passionately 25 years after his kiss of death.