Norway coach Stale Solbakken has given his players two days off after their 4-1 World Cup win over Iraq, praising Erling Haaland and urging focus ahead of Senegal.
Norway manager Stale Solbakken has rewarded his players with two days off after they marked their long-awaited return to the FIFA World Cup with an impressive 4-1 victory over Iraq in Foxborough on Tuesday.
The Scandinavian side ended a 28-year absence from football’s biggest stage in style, producing a confident display that was highlighted by a brace from star striker Erling Haaland.
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The win gave Norway a perfect start to their Group I campaign and put them in a strong position ahead of their remaining fixtures.
With Norway not due back in action until June 22, Solbakken believes the break comes at the perfect time after an intense period of preparation and the emotional build-up to their World Cup return.
“I think it will be good for them not to see me for the next two days,” Solbakken joked while speaking to reporters after the match. The coach explained that players would be free to spend time with their families or relax however they choose.
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Many members of the squad are expected to welcome family visits during the short break, while others may choose to remain active. Solbakken stressed that players can train if they wish, but also encouraged them to switch off mentally after the demanding schedule.
“It’s really good to have a break now,” he said. “It has been really intense, and everybody could feel how big this occasion was. Being able to relax your mind and body and spend time with family is important during a tournament like this.”
One player who handled the pressure particularly well was Haaland. Making his World Cup debut, the Manchester City striker delivered a standout performance, scoring twice and leading the line with confidence as Norway cruised to victory.
Solbakken admitted he had no doubts about his star forward rising to the occasion. “He liked the occasion and lived up to it. The occasion wasn’t too big for him,” the Norway boss said.
He also revealed that Haaland had looked sharp in training and gave every indication he was ready to perform on the biggest stage.
Despite the convincing win, Solbakken is refusing to get carried away. Norway’s next challenge comes against Senegal, who suffered a 3-1 defeat to France in their opening group match. The Norwegian coach expects a much tougher contest and insists his team remains fully focused on the task ahead.
While some observers believe Norway’s opening victory has already put them on course for the knockout stages, Solbakken remains cautious.
He pointed to Senegal’s strong first-half display against France as evidence of the quality they possess and stressed that Norway must continue improving if they are to advance from the group and make a memorable World Cup run.
