Norwegian national team coach Stale Solbakken has urged his players not to be intimidated by Brazil's formidable presence when the two teams meet in the round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup at the New York Stadium in New York, USA.
Solbakken stressed that his team must focus on the game and not be carried away by the magnitude of the moment or the reputation of the opponent. FootballBall
"We have to play the game, not the situation. We have to make sure we don't play because of the magnitude of the moment, but just focus on playing the game," Solbakken was quoted as saying by FIFA on Sunday.
Norway advanced to the knockout stages with a strong lead after winning three of their four matches at the 2026 World Cup.
Erling Haaland's impressive performance, scoring five goals, has also made The Lovene one of the surprises of the tournament.
While admitting Brazil remains the favorite, Solbakken believes his team still has a chance to create a surprise if they play their best.
"I don't think they're as big a favorite as they were a few years ago. We've had a really good run for a long time, we've got a lot of confidence, and we play a good style of football on the ball," he said.
