Tribal Football

Solbakken: Focus on Haaland, underestimate Norway

Norway star Erling Haaland.
Norway star Erling Haaland.Reuters

Norway boss Ståle Solbakken has issued a clear warning to England ahead of tonight's crunch 2026 FIFA World Cup quarterfinal clash in Miami.

The Scandinavians are through to their first-ever World Cup quarters, after superb knockout stage late wins over the Ivory Coast and five-time winners Brazil, both of which came via key goals from talisman Erling Haaland.

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Haaland is now up to seven goals in his debut World Cup and the Manchester City striker is right in the hunt for the Golden Boot in North America this summer.

The former Borussia Dortmund striker is the standout name on Solbakken's team sheet, despite the presence of national team and Arsenal captain Martini Odegaard, alongside Atletico Madrid's Alexander Sorloth.

Too much focus on Haaland would be a mistake by England according to Solbakken as he prepares for the biggest game of his managerial career.

"You're underestimating some of our other players if you think that's (Haaland) the whole team. He needs service, he needs players o feed him, but I can't deny he's a big match winner for us."

Haaland and Sorloth are expected to team up once again, but Solbakken is debating a change in his other attacking spot, with Benfica's Andreas Schjelderup potentially handed a start off the left in place of Antonio Nusa.

Norway's defensive record is also a slight concern, as they have not kept a clean sheet so far in all five of their World Cup clashes, but England have conceded in three out of five played so far.

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