Norwegian coach Stale Solbakken rejected suggestions that having players from the Premier League would give his team an advantage against England in the World Cup quarter-final. He cheekily pointed out that the opposition’s star players are actually playing elsewhere.
Norway has Manchester City striker Erling Haaland and Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard among its Premier League contingent, but Solbakken noted that England’s top two goalscorers ply their trade in LaLiga and the Bundesliga.
While Bayern Munich forward Harry Kane is in the running for another World Cup Golden Boot with six goals so far, midfielder Jude Bellingham also scored with four goals, including two in England’s 3-2 win over Mexico in the last 16.
«I don’t know if it’s beneficial. Some players have obviously played against a lot of English players,» Solbakken told reporters on Wednesday.
«The two best English players may not be playing in the Premier League. They are playing in Spain and Germany, so you can take it that way.»
Solbakken acknowledged that Norway’s stunning defeat by Brazil in the last 16 to advance to the quarter-finals for the first time had boosted confidence, but warned against getting carried away.
“I think it gave (us) more confidence, but I think… Every game has its own life,” Solbakken said.
«I don’t think any other team we have met so far at this World Cup has underestimated us. Every team does its analysis, a lot of analysis, so there are no secrets. That also applies to this match.»
Solbakken had said earlier this week that some players were not feeling well, but made it clear that everyone was now ready to play.
«It’s true that Odegaard was sick. It’s his uncle (Thomas) who is a physio, he’s sick. It’s not Martin,» he said.
«So everything is fine, every player is fine. There is no illness among the players. There have been one or two on the staff.»
The coach praised Haaland’s leadership qualities, describing him as «a great leader both on and off the pitch», with the striker also in the running for the Golden Boot with seven goals – one behind Argentina’s Lionel Messi.
«He’s one of the boys. He’s been with these Under 16, 17 and 18 boys,» the coach said.
“Many of them have been together all their lives, so they are really enjoying this trip too.”
As for Odegaard’s captaincy, Solbakken suggested that the Arsenal midfielder carries a greater responsibility with his national team than at club level.
“He may have a more free role in our team,” he explained.
«Maybe if he plays at Arsenal he has equal players with the same experience as Declan Rice and (Martin) Zubimendi. They can share it a little bit. Obviously we can maybe put a little more on his shoulders.»
«Together with Erling, he has been one of our best players in the long term and a great captain, even when times were a bit more difficult than they are now.»
Published on July 9, 2026
