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🇮🇸 Iceland /Sports

Haaland rested as Norway loses to France at World Cup

From Morgunblaðið · () Icelandic

Translated from Icelandic, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • Erling Haaland did not play in Norway's 4-1 loss to France in the World Cup, as the team had already secured a spot in the next round.
  • Coach Ståle Solbakken rested key players, including Haaland, to prioritize advancing further in the tournament.
  • Haaland stated he was indifferent to the loss, acknowledging France's superiority, while Solbakken expressed regret only for fans who missed seeing the stars.

Erling Haaland remained on the bench for Norway's 4-1 defeat against France during the men's football World Cup, a decision made by coach Ståle Solbakken after Norway had already qualified for the round of 32.

I said before the game that I didn't care, and it's still the same.

— Erling HaalandHaaland's reaction to Norway's loss to France after being rested.

Solbakken opted to field a reserve team against the strong French side, prioritizing the team's overall progression in the tournament. "We are here to go as far as possible, and I have to make decisions that I believe will get us there," Solbakken explained after the match. His only regret was for the supporters who traveled hoping to see stars like Haaland and Martin Ødegaard play.

France was the better team anyway. Even with our strongest starting lineup, I don't think we could have beaten them.

— Erling HaalandHaaland's assessment of the match against France.

Following the game, Haaland expressed his lack of concern about the loss. "I said before the game that I didn't care, and it's still the same," he stated. "France was the better team anyway. Even with our strongest starting lineup, I don't think we could have beaten them."

We are here to go as far as possible, and I have to make decisions that I believe will get us there.

— Ståle SolbakkenCoach Solbakken explaining his decision to rest key players.

Norway is set to face Ivory Coast in the round of 32 next Tuesday.

The only thing I have remorse over are the supporters who traveled to see Erling [Haaland] and Martin [Ødegaard] and the other stars.

— Ståle SolbakkenSolbakken's regret regarding the fans' experience.
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Originally published by Morgunblaðið in Icelandic. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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