Solbakken praised Haaland for always putting the team's interests first.

Norway, the "Vikings," will face France, the "Les Bleus," at the Gillespie Stadium in a crucial Group I match of the 2026 World Cup. Head coach Solbakken stated that Haaland is a player eager to score goals, but also noted that the striker's greatest strength is always putting the team's interests first.

Norway defeated Senegal 3-2 in their last group match, thanks to goals from Holgren Pedersen and Haaland.

France, nicknamed "Les Bleus," secured a resounding 3-0 victory over Iraq in their last match. Currently, Norway sits in second place in Group I with 6 points, tied with first-placed France.

Norway's head coach, Solbåken, stated, "The match against France is certainly important, but the most crucial game is the Round of 32. Given the current situation, we don't know how many more matches we'll play in this World Cup. But what's 100% certain is that by the time we reach the Round of 32, we must ensure our players are fully recovered, both physically and mentally. The knockout stage could very well go to extra time, or even penalty shootouts."

“Some people might say that these players are used to playing a game every three days. But the pressure of the World Cup is completely different; it’s like a pressure cooker.”

Solbakken said, "We are certainly very happy to have gotten 6 points. France has experienced many similar situations in the past, and we can learn from them."

“They will rotate some players in their third group stage match. We can’t be too greedy; we should be smarter than greedy.”

It's worth mentioning that the competition between Norwegian striker Erling Haaland and French star Kylian Mbappé on the field has also aroused the fans' expectations, and who will score more goals is a topic that fans love to discuss.

However, Solbakken stated, "Haaland isn't focused on being the tournament's top scorer. His attention is always on the team; he's a true team player."

"He is equally happy when his teammates score. He certainly has an attacking instinct and a desire to score, but his greatest strength is that he always puts the team's interests first."

Image source: Internet