Sleepless Solbakken reveals Ancelotti gift after Norway beat Brazil

Norway's coach Stale Solbakken admitted to losing sleep after their thrilling 2-1 World Cup last-16 triumph over Brazil, a victory that propels the team into the quarter-finals for the first time in their history.

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He (Ancelotti) showed his enormous greatness after the match. He sent a representative in with a Brazilian shirt with my name on the back and a greeting. So it was strong stuff.

Striker Erling Haaland was the hero, netting both goals to secure the historic win. Norway is now set to face England in the quarter-finals in Miami on Saturday. Despite the monumental achievement, Solbakken found himself re-watching the game and responding to messages, with little sleep.

Solbakken also shared an anecdote about a pre-match tension involving a video clip where he appeared to taunt Brazil's coach Carlo Ancelotti. Solbakken clarified the clip was taken out of context, and Ancelotti displayed remarkable sportsmanship afterward. "He (Ancelotti) showed his enormous greatness after the match. He sent a representative in with a Brazilian shirt with my name on the back and a greeting. So it was strong stuff," Solbakken told reporters.

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I let the support staff celebrate for themselves. I was too tired, so I went to bed and watched the game again, and then I scrolled a little here and there and answered a few texts, and slept very little. But it was a good morning.

While Solbakken allowed his players and staff a night to celebrate their historic achievement, he maintained a coach's vigilance. He expressed confidence in his team's ability to manage their celebrations responsibly, stating, "They decide these things themselves, it's freedom with responsibility. It always is, these boys manage that just fine."

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They decide these things themselves, it's freedom with responsibility. It always is, these boys manage that just fine.