As the World Cup 2026 heats up, the quarter-final match between England and Norway promises to be a thrilling encounter. Norway's boss, Stale Solbakken, has boldly stated that England is the favorite to reach the semi-finals, but with a caveat - they're not overwhelmingly so.
This match-up is particularly intriguing given Norway's impressive run, having knocked out Brazil, a five-time world champion. Solbakken believes that while England has the edge, the pressure is on both teams.
"I think England have more pressure than us," Solbakken said. "But we also put pressure on our performance. Once the game starts, I don't think the players think about the pressure."
Norway's team is a force to be reckoned with, boasting Premier League stars like Arsenal's Martin Odegaard and Manchester City's Erling Haaland. Solbakken acknowledges the historical significance of facing England and Brazil, two of the biggest football nations.
The winner of this quarter-final will face either Argentina or Switzerland, with a spot in the July 19th showpiece on the line. Norway's striker, Haaland, has been on fire, scoring seven goals and leading his team to their first World Cup quarter-finals since 1998.
The focus on Friday was on Haaland and England's captain, Harry Kane, who has also been prolific with six goals. Solbakken downplayed the idea of a straight shootout between the two, emphasizing that it's a team effort.
"It's not a secret that Kane is match-winner number one for England, and Erling is match-winner number one for us," Solbakken said. "But you can't deny that [Haaland] is a big, big match-winner for us."
Solbakken praised England's performance against co-hosts Mexico, highlighting the impact of players like Jude Bellingham and Kane. He believes that England's strength lies in their ability to create chances and their depth in attack.
"Mexico created very few chances, and I think [Thomas] Tuchel managed to get their best players in good positions," Solbakken noted.
Despite Norway's impressive possession stats against Brazil, Solbakken doesn't expect a similar scenario against England, citing the heat and their training approach.
"It's getting hotter. We've trained lightly and haven't done as much hard work. It's all about being fresh for tomorrow," he said.
The atmosphere in Miami is electric, with thousands of Norway fans in attendance for this historic match. Solbakken acknowledged the impact of the World Cup run, bringing the country together.
"The whole of Norway is looking forward to tomorrow," he said.
In a heartfelt moment, Solbakken paid tribute to his former idol, Kevin Keegan, the former England captain and manager, who recently revealed he has stage four cancer.
"My biggest regret in World Cup history is that Kevin Keegan did not score when he came on against Spain in 1982. He was my big hero. I hope Kevin is well," Solbakken said.
This quarter-final promises to be more than just a football match; it's a clash of two nations with rich footballing histories, and the outcome could shape the trajectory of this World Cup.
