Excessive pre-World Cup meal leaves Norway coach Solbakken with stomach ache

Norwegian national football team coach Ståle Solbakken humorously described a pre-World Cup team meal prepared by celebrity chef Eyvind Hellstrøm as an experience of "overeating to the extreme." The lavish dinner, intended as a morale booster before the team's departure for the World Cup, left Solbakken feeling unwell.

Solbakken recounted the event during a press conference, noting that the meal featured "four steaks from different countries." He quipped that he "had a stomach ache throughout the Champions League final" due to the excessive consumption. The team also participated in a photo session dressed in Viking costumes, which Solbakken acknowledged as a memorable experience for the players.

With the team set to travel to the USA imminently, Solbakken stressed a shift in focus towards the upcoming tournament. "We are not going to bring any outfits, Hellstrøm, or anything else," he stated, emphasizing the transition into "training camp mode." The coach dismissed any notion that these social events were frustrating, confirming that he had approved them as part of the team's preparation.

The team's journey includes three warm-up matches before the World Cup. Following their arrival in the USA, they are scheduled to play against Morocco and another team in a closed-door match. Solbakken also mentioned that player Jørgen Strand Larsen sustained a thigh injury during training, making him a potential uncertainty for the upcoming match against Sweden.

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Vi kommer ikke til å ta med verken antrekk, Hellstrøm eller noe annet. Det er derfor jeg sier at jeg gleder meg til vi kommer over dit. Da går vi inn i treningsleir-modus,