Solbakken's touching message: "Even the best need to feel loved"

Tears flowed among Norway's biggest football stars after their stunning victory over Brazil, a moment that deeply pleased national team coach Ståle Solbakken.

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I think we should all be happy about that.

"I think we should all be happy about that," Solbakken told VG after the match. The team's advancement to the World Cup quarterfinals, setting up a clash with England, brought overwhelming emotions to players who have long dreamed of such achievements.

Captain Martin Ødegaard, fresh off a Premier League title and Champions League final with Arsenal, described the feeling as difficult to put into words, citing the long journey and hard work. "It's been an absolutely enormous experience, the whole thing," he said. Solbakken added, "It's nice that we, in the world we live in, see that football can unite so many and that people appreciate playing for their country so much."

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They are huge favorites, so we'll see what happens. It will be a cool game. We go in with a lot of confidence.

Solbakken also reflected on the bond between himself and Ødegaard, particularly after a moment of embrace on the field. He noted that even top players need to feel loved and supported, especially after a season marked by injuries for the captain. "We talk a lot together on the phone and have developed a close relationship. We've been through a lot together," Solbakken said, calling Ødegaard a "great man and a great captain."

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It's difficult to put into words. A lot of joy and a lot of other things. It's been a long journey and we've worked so hard for this. It's been an absolutely enormous experience, the whole thing. It's fantastic to be a part of.

Norway now faces England in the quarterfinals, with Haaland and Ødegaard expected to be crucial to their chances of reaching the semifinals.

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It's nice that we, in the world we live in, see that football can unite so many and that people appreciate playing for their country so much.