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France too fast for second-string Norway, says coach Solbakken
🇸🇬 Singapore /Sports

France too fast for second-string Norway, says coach Solbakken

From CNA · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Norway's coach Stale Solbakken acknowledged his second-string team struggled against France's speed in a 4-1 World Cup loss.
  • Solbakken praised his players' fighting spirit despite the defeat, noting they created chances throughout the game.
  • The coach rested 10 regular starters, including Erling Haaland, to prepare for the upcoming knockout stage match against Ivory Coast.

Norway's coach Stale Solbakken attributed his team's 4-1 World Cup defeat to France's superior speed, acknowledging that his second-string lineup repeatedly lost possession. Despite the loss, Solbakken commended his players for their fighting spirit and for creating offensive chances throughout the match.

It goes very fast when we lose the ball a few times. Offensively, we created chances throughout the whole game, so the boys should have credit for that. It was not only in the second half that we created chances, we created big chances.

— Stale SolbakkenReflecting on the team's performance against France and their offensive efforts.

"It goes very fast when we lose the ball a few times," Solbakken stated. "Offensively, we created chances throughout the whole game, so the boys should have credit for that. It was not only in the second half that we created chances, we created big chances."

The decision to rest 10 of the 11 regular starters, including star striker Erling Haaland and captain Martin Odegaard, was a strategic move ahead of Norway's Round of 32 knockout match against Ivory Coast on June 30. Solbakken emphasized that the team's priority is to advance as far as possible in the tournament, even if it meant disappointing fans eager to see the team's full strength.

Now it's about charging up the batteries - remember that the break we had from the last game is the shortest the team has had in the tournament, and now a new game is coming up in four days.

— Stale SolbakkenExplaining the rationale behind resting key players for the upcoming knockout match.

"Now it's about charging up the batteries - remember that the break we had from the last game is the shortest the team has had in the tournament, and now a new game is coming up in four days," Solbakken explained. "The only argument for not doing what we did (resting 10 players) is that the fans around Norway and here could have seen Erling and (captain) Martin (Odegaard), but then it wouldn't be a long World Cup, and that's what we're here for - we're here to go as far as possible."

The only argument for not doing what we did (resting 10 players) is that the fans around Norway and here could have seen Erling and (captain) Martin (Odegaard), but then it wouldn't be a long World Cup, and that's what we're here for - we're here to go as far as possible.

— Stale SolbakkenAddressing the decision to rest players and the team's ultimate goal in the tournament.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by CNA in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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