Co-hosted by USA and Canada, this will be the 23rd World Cup, the inaugural tournament back in 1930.
As we build up to the summer’s football fest, we take a look at the Spurs players to feature on the greatest stage of all…
Erik Thorstvedt
The Norwegian national team was in the middle of a golden era when they qualified for the 1994 World Cup Finals in the USA, with a squad which included a number of English-based players including our goalkeeper, Erik Thorstvedt.
Norway had taken part in the 1938 tournament in France, but then spent a long period in the international wilderness. However, the appointment of Egil Olsen as manager in 1982, plus the emergence of a number of their star players in the top leagues across Europe, sparked an incredible revival.
They qualified for the 1994 tournament as group leaders, ahead of Netherlands - who also progressed – and England, who didn’t. In fact, Norway held Graham Taylor’s England at Wembley before beating them 2-0 in Oslo.
Thorstvedt – dubbed ‘Erik the Viking’ by fans and media alike during his time at the Lane – had just finished his sixth season as a Spur when the tournament came around.
Norway were paired in a tough group alongside Italy, Republic of Ireland and Mexico, but with a squad which contained the likes of Thorstvedt, Gunnar Halle, Stig Bjornebye, Alf Inge Haaland, Henning Berg, Lars Bohinen and future Spur, Oyvind Leonhardsen, they were confident of progressing.
Erik took his place as number one as they made the dream start by defeating Mexico 1-0 thanks to Kjetil Rekdal’s 84th-minute winner, but lost out to Italy in their second game.
Going into the final round of matches, all four teams in the group had three points each. Norway knew a win against Republic of Ireland would see them through but only managed a goalless draw in New York.
Incredibly, Italy’s game against Mexico also ended in a draw, but despite every team in the group finishing with four points, Norway’s lack of goals – just one scored – meant they ended bottom of the group and exited the competition. Thorstvedt conceded just one goal in three games, but it wasn’t enough.
Signed from Swedish side IFK Göteborg, IFK, Erik made 218 appearances for us between 1989 and 1996, winning the FA Cup in 1991. We were his last club – he retired in 1996. He earned 97 caps for Norway, 1982-96.