In their native Norway, there is hope that the star tandem could soon restore the nation's dominance in football.

PHOTO | COURTESY Manchester City Norwegian striker Erling Haaland

On Wednesday, when Arsenal plays Manchester City in a match that will decide the Premier League champion battle, Erling Haaland and Martin Odegaard will square off against one other.

Norway has yet to participate in a major tournament since Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Tore Andre Flo led their offence at Euro 2000.

Norway overcame Spain but could not advance through their group as Haaland had yet to be born, and Odegaard was only 18 months old.

After reaching successive World Cups and overcoming Brazil en route to the round of 16 in France 98, it marked the end of Norway's golden age of football.

PHOTO | COURTESY Arsenal and Norway star Martin Odegaard in action for Norway

Although the national squad narrowly missed qualifying for the 2018 World Cup, things are turning as they advanced to the Euro 2020 play-offs.

The qualifying process for Euro 2024 will start the following month, and Norway and Spain are the slight favourites to win their group against Scotland.

The 22-year-old Haaland, who has averaged more than a goal per game for City since joining Borussia Dortmund, has dominated the headlines in the Premier League, where he is by far the league's leading scorer.

Odegaard, who joined Real Madrid when he was 16 years old, had trouble living up to the promise there but is now spearheading Arsenal's drive for the Premier League championship.

Good vibes

Julian Ryerson, a 25-year-old right back who recently transferred from Union Berlin to Dortmund, is one of them.

The 27-year-old Alexander Sorloth has been in excellent goal-scoring form for Real Sociedad, but it is still hopeful how the powerful striker would fit in with Haaland's club.

Then there is the late 2020 hire, former Wolverhampton Wanderers coach Stale Solbakken.

Undoubtedly, the national squad is progressing, but what about the domestic league?

It has been 15 years since Rosenborg of Trondheim defeated Chelsea, ending Jose Mourinho's first tenure at Stamford Bridge, and a Norwegian team advanced to the Champions League group stage.

PHOTO | COURTESY Norway stars Erling Haaland and Martin Odegaard

The tiny club from the Arctic Circle, Bodo/Glimt, came very near to qualifying for the Champions League this year but lost in the playoffs.

Their performances in Europe, together with those of the reigning champions Molde, are encouraging, as is the Eliteserien's recent six-year television agreement with home broadcaster TV2, which is said to be worth over $500 million. The Eliteserien begins in April and lasts through the summer.

A challenge is keeping talented players for an extended period.

Haaland was a star for Molde before turning 18 and joining Red Bull Salzburg. Odegaard participated in just a few games for Stromsgodset.

Several Norwegian teams sold players to foreign groups for significant sums of money during the most recent transfer window, including the Ivorian forward David Datro Fofana, who left Molde for Chelsea for close to £10 million ($12 million).