England favourites to reach semis, says Norway boss

Norway's coach Stale Solbakken believes England are the favorites to advance to the World Cup semi-finals when the two teams meet in Miami. However, he tempered the assessment, telling BBC Sport, "They are favorites, but they're not big, big favorites."

Solbakken, who previously managed Wolves, noted that England carries more pressure into the match. "But we also put pressure on our performance," he said at a news conference. "Once the game starts I don't think the players think about the pressure."

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They are favourites, but they're not big, big favourites.

Norway's squad boasts significant Premier League experience, including Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard and Manchester City's Erling Haaland. Solbakken acknowledged the historical weight of both nations in the tournament, stating, "Brazil and England are maybe the two biggest nations we could meet at this World Cup in terms of history."

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I think England have more pressure than us.

The quarter-final clash is set to feature a battle between prolific strikers Erling Haaland and England's Harry Kane. Solbakken, however, stressed that the game is a team effort. "It's Norway against England," he asserted. "It's not a secret that Kane is match-winner number one for England and Erling is match-winner number one for us."

Despite Haaland's individual brilliance, Solbakken cautioned against underestimating other Norwegian players. "There's no doubt that he [Haaland] is our biggest match-winner, but I think you underestimate some of the other players if you think that's the whole theme," he said. "He also needs service but you can't deny that he is a big, big match-winner for us."

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But we also put pressure on our performance. Once the game starts I don't think the players think about the pressure.

Reflecting on England's recent performance, Solbakken admired their ability to secure a win against Mexico despite a red card. He highlighted the effectiveness of England's attacking options, including Jude Bellingham and Kane, and their midfield control. "We need to compete and defend properly. We need to concentrate on the pitch and then we can be ourselves," Solbakken concluded.

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Brazil and England are maybe the two biggest nations we could meet at this World Cup in terms of history.