Norway has long challenged, and at least on the men's side outclassed, Sweden on the ski track. But now the neighbouring country is starting to gain ground in more sports.
Hockey, tennis, skiing, football and so on, says Hoddevik, adding that Norway has been better than Sweden in sports in general in recent years.
Are you afraid of Sweden in any sporting context?
"No, nothing. We have raised the level in Norway," he says.
Went a long way this year
Norway has come a long way in this year's World Cup, but in the past 28 years the country has not even qualified for a men's football championship. Now something has happened.
I think we have good conditions to take care of our players from the beginning until they become professionals, says Christopher Hoddevik.
He can barely take the question of which country is the best at football seriously.
Norway. Without a doubt. Without a doubt, he says with a smile.
Before the match against Brazil, red-clad supporter Lasse Veie had lunch with his Brazilian wife Alice. Despite the fact that the opponent was a five-time champion, he was not the least bit worried.
"We will win. I'm one hundred percent sure," he told TT before kick-off.
The couple then watched the match in different locations to minimise the risk of getting into an argument.
"I signed the divorce papers at home on the kitchen counter," said Lasse, who stayed in Oslo while Alice went home to Trondheim, where the couple lives.
He highlights Norwegian players such as Erling Braut Haaland, Martin Ødegaard and Alexander Sørloth as crucial to the Norwegian success.
“Can buy Sweden”
Another key to Norway's sporting success is the Norwegian fans, says Christopher Hoddevik.
"We are not only better at sports. We are also better than Sweden at creating a good atmosphere," he says, mentioning, among other things, the row celebration that received attention during the World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico.
On Sunday night, the partying never stopped after the historic victory against Brazil. The song that was played most frequently on Karl Johans gate and outside the palace in central Oslo, where the celebrations culminated, was "Kjøpe hele Sverige" by the Norwegian duo Soppgirobygget.
"We can buy all of Sweden if we want," thousands of Norwegian football fans sang outside the castle.
An eternal Nordic sports rivalry. But who is really the best?
+ Football
The Swedish men's national team qualified for the World Cup (eliminated in the round of 16 against France) via a playoff, without winning a single match in qualifying. Norway, on the other hand, is enjoying its greatest World Cup success to date and will play the quarter-finals against England on Saturday.
On the women's side, Sweden is a stable top-10 in the world and has won a couple of major medals recently. Norway has historically been strong, but is looking for the same dominance as before.
+ Ice hockey
Men's ice hockey is the pride of Sweden. NHL players, JVM gold, World Cup medals.
Norway's greatest achievement came at the last World Cup tournament, where it took a historic bronze and knocked out Canada.
On the women's side, Sweden has won a couple of medals in the 2000s. Norway has a national team that has not asserted itself at the international level.
+ Handball
On the men's side, Sweden could become a European power again. It has European Championship gold and World Championship finals in recent years. Norway has no championship gold.
On the women's side, Norway is one of handball's great dynasties with numerous World Championship golds, European Championship golds and Olympic gold.
+ Tennis
Sweden still looks back on the 80s and 90s and thinks back to the great days of old.
Norway, on the other hand, has a clear front-runner in Casper Ruud, who basically carries the entire nation's tennis ambitions on his shoulders.
+ Golf
Sweden has long had a strong golf tradition on both the men's and women's side. Big names, stable tour presence, mainly for the ladies.
Norway has had fewer stars historically.
+ Cross-country skiing/biathlon/alpine skiing
Norway is by far the superior team on the men's side, led by Olympic champion Johannes Høsflot Klæbo. Sweden also has superstars on the women's side.
The same goes for biathlon. Norway dominates the men's side, Sweden is top class on the women's side.
Sweden has had big profiles and Olympic moments, mainly on the women's side when it comes to downhill skiing, but Norway has both breadth and top skiers in the World Cup.
