Norway coach Stale Solbakken has urged his side to stay true to their identity ahead of the FIFA World Cup quarterfinal against England. With Erling Haaland leading Norway and Harry Kane spearheading England, both teams prepare for a high-stakes knockout showdown.
Norway head coach Stale Solbakken has urged his players to remain faithful to their playing style as they prepare for one of the biggest matches in the country’s football history—a FIFA World Cup quarterfinal against England. Speaking during the pre-match press conference on Friday, Solbakken emphasized that Norway’s greatest strength lies in maintaining the identity that has carried them to the last eight of the tournament.
Norway has impressed throughout the competition, reaching its first FIFA World Cup quarterfinal in 28 years. The Scandinavian nation now faces one of the tournament favourites, England, which has advanced to the quarterfinals for the third consecutive World Cup.
Despite acknowledging England’s quality and experience, Solbakken made it clear that his team’s focus should remain on its own strengths rather than becoming overwhelmed by the opposition.
“I would like to see a Norway team that play up to their strength and that we are ourselves, like we have been the whole tournament,” Solbakken said during the press conference.
The Norwegian coach admitted England possesses exceptional attacking talent capable of deciding matches from multiple areas of the field. He highlighted key players including Jude Bellingham and captain Harry Kane, stressing that defensive discipline will be essential if Norway hopes to progress.
“Obviously when you meet a team like England, who has great players on the wings, Bellingham, Kane, they can score from many positions,” Solbakken said. “We need to compete there, we need to defend properly. But the most important thing for me is that we are ourselves with the ball.”
One of the biggest talking points ahead of the match is the battle between England captain Harry Kane and Norway’s prolific striker Erling Haaland. However, Solbakken dismissed the idea that the contest would be decided by individual stars alone, insisting it would be a collective effort.
“I think it’s Norway versus England, but I don’t think it’s a secret that Kane is the match winner No. 1 for England and Haaland is the match winner No. 1 for us,” he remarked.
Haaland has enjoyed a sensational tournament, scoring seven goals in just four matches to lead Norway into a historic quarterfinal appearance. His outstanding form has made him one of the tournament’s leading scorers and a major threat to England’s defence.
England, meanwhile, continues to rely heavily on Harry Kane, who has netted six goals in the ongoing World Cup. Kane’s latest tally has taken his career World Cup goal count to 14, further cementing his reputation as one of international football’s most reliable forwards.
For Haaland, the upcoming fixture carries additional personal significance. Born in England and currently playing club football for Manchester City, the Norwegian striker will face several familiar faces, including teammates Nico O’Reilly, Marc Guehi and James Trafford.
“It’s a special game, yeah, definitely,” Haaland said. “I think for me it’s super special, because I play in England and I was born in England, and you also play against teammates and everything. It’s a funny game and it’s going to be nice.”
Solbakken expressed confidence that his players genuinely believe they can overcome England, provided they deliver their highest level of performance. At the same time, he acknowledged that anything less than their best would likely see England advance to the semifinals.
“The players deep down feel that they can beat England, but obviously we have to be at our very, very best. If we are not at our very, very best, England will go through,” he said.
The Norwegian coach also praised the mood within his squad, describing the players as relaxed yet fully competitive ahead of the knockout clash.
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“They are in a relaxed but competitive mood,” Solbakken added. “I don’t think that you could be at your very best if you don’t feel a little bit of pressure.”
With a place in the FIFA World Cup semifinals at stake, Friday’s encounter promises to be one of the tournament’s most anticipated matches, featuring two in-form strikers, contrasting football traditions and the possibility of another memorable World Cup upset.
