England are favourites to beat Norway and reach the 2026 FIFA World Cup semi-finals, according to Norway head coach, Stale Solbakken, who believes the Three Lions will carry greater pressure into Saturday’s quarter-final in Miami.
Solbakken acknowledged England’s status as favourites in the World Cup semi-finals, but insisted the gap between the two sides is not overwhelming.
England face a Norway side enjoying its best World Cup campaign in nearly three decades after eliminating five-time champions Brazil in the round of 16.
The winners will face either Argentina or Switzerland in the semi-finals.
“They are favourites, but they’re not big, big favourites,” he said.
The former Wolverhampton Wanderers manager later told a news conference, “I think England have more pressure than us.
ALSO READ: World Cup: Pressure is on England against Norway — Haaland
“But we also put pressure on our performance. Once the game starts I don’t think the players think about the pressure.”
Norway’s squad features several Premier League stars, including Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard and Manchester City striker Erling Haaland, who has scored seven goals during the tournament.
“Brazil and England are maybe the two biggest nations we could meet at this World Cup in terms of history,” Solbakken added.
Despite the spotlight on Haaland and England captain Harry Kane, who has scored six goals in five matches, Solbakken dismissed suggestions that the outcome will depend solely on the two strikers.
“It’s Norway against England,” he said.
“It’s not a secret that Kane is match-winner number one for England and Erling is match-winner number one for us.
“There’s no doubt that he is our biggest match-winner, but I think you underestimate some of the other players if you think that’s the whole theme.
“He also needs service, but you can’t deny that he is a big, big match-winner for us.”
Norway are playing in their first World Cup since 1998 and have reached the quarter-finals for the first time after victories over Iraq, Senegal, Ivory Coast and Brazil.
Solbakken praised England’s performances under Thomas Tuchel, particularly their 3-2 last-16 victory over co-hosts Mexico despite playing much of the match with 10 men following Jarell Quansah’s red card.
“We need to compete and defend properly. We need to concentrate on the pitch and then we can be ourselves,” he said.
“Jude Bellingham and Kane scored from great positions. I think the most impressive game came when they were better than Mexico.
“Mexico created very few chances, and I think Tuchel managed to get their best players in good positions. And being match-winners like Bellingham, Kane, they have several options on the wings, which means that if one doesn’t have the day, another comes in and then obviously does something good, then steady out in the middle of the park with Elliot Anderson and Declan Rice.”
Norway enjoyed 66.4 per cent possession in their win over Brazil, but Solbakken does not expect a similar pattern against England.
“No I don’t. It’s getting hotter. We have trained very lightly. We’ve not done as much hard work. We have had technical sessions but in a lower tempo.
“It’s all about being fresh for tomorrow,” he said.
Thousands of Norway supporters have travelled to Miami for the quarter-final, with Solbakken saying the team’s run has united the country.
“It has brought the country together. The whole of Norway is looking forward to tomorrow,” he said.
The Norway coach also paid tribute to former England captain Kevin Keegan, who revealed in June that 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,” Solbakken said.
“He was my big hero. I hope Kevin is well.
“We had Match of the Day on the television from the late 1960s and early 1970s when it was one game on the telly, and everyone had a team they followed.
“My team was Liverpool and Kevin was my man. So I say hello to Kevin.”
