Norway's coach: We won't fear Brazil, we'll focus on the game

Norway's national team coach, Stale Solbakken, has declared his squad is unfazed by the prospect of facing football powerhouse Brazil in the 2026 World Cup Round of 16. Solbakken emphasized the importance of his players concentrating on the match itself, rather than being overwhelmed by the occasion or Brazil's renowned status. "We have to play the game, not the situation. We have to make sure that we don't play because of the magnitude of this moment, but just focus on playing the game," Solbakken stated, as quoted by FIFA.Norway enters the knockout stage with significant momentum, having won three of their four tournament matches. The impressive form of star striker Erling Haaland, who has scored five goals, has been a key factor in their surprising run. While acknowledging Brazil as favorites, Solbakken sees an opportunity for an upset if Norway performs at its highest level. "I don't think they are as huge favorites as maybe some years ago. We have had a very good period for a long time, have high confidence, and a good style of play when we have the ball," he commented.The 58-year-old coach stressed that his team's ability to challenge Brazil hinges on their peak performance. "The most important thing is that we are able to make it difficult for Brazil if we play to our best ability. But we have to be absolutely at the highest level. If not, we won't have a chance," he asserted.Solbakken also highlighted the need to contain Brazil's dangerous winger, Vinicius Junior, describing it as a collective team effort rather than solely a task for the full-backs. He also reiterated the strategy of maximizing Haaland's impact in attack, even while acknowledging the necessity of defensive periods. "For 90 or even 120 minutes, we will have to defend in certain periods, and that's when we have to perform as best as we can," he added.Historical statistics offer some encouragement, as Brazil has never defeated Norway in their four previous encounters. However, Solbakken cautioned that past results will be irrelevant if his team fails to deliver their best performance in this crucial match.

“

We have to play the game, not the situation. We have to make sure that we don't play because of the magnitude of this moment, but just focus on playing the game.