Stale Solbakken urged his Norway team to play the game, not the circumstances, in their World Cup showdown against Brazil at New York New Jersey Stadium.
This will be Norway’s second World Cup knockout match, having played only two major tournament knockout matches in their history prior to their participation in North America.
And they face a nation in Brazil that has progressed in nine of its last 10 matches in the last 16 of the World Cup, only failing to do so in 1990, when it was beaten 1-0 by Argentina.
But Norway comes into the match confident, having beaten Ivory Coast 2-1 in their first World Cup knockout victory thanks to Erling Haaland’s 86th-minute winner.
“We need to play the game, not the circumstances. We need to make sure we don’t play by chance, but just play the game,” Solbakken said.
Solbakken highlighted Haaland’s importance to his team should they get a chance against Brazil, with the Manchester City striker scoring five goals in the tournament.
Haaland could become just the eighth European player to score in each of his first four World Cup appearances, and the first since Christian Vieiri with Italy in 1998. He has scored in each of his last 13 competitive international matches overall, scoring 25 goals in this streak.
“I think we have found ways to support him and provide him with the right service,” said the Norwegian coach.
“We are a team that cannot wait for Brazil because we are a team with an offensive mentality.
“For 90 or 120 minutes against Brazil, you have to defend for more or less long periods, and then we have to give our best there.”
But in addition to highlighting Haaland’s importance to his team, Solbakken was also wary of Brazil’s offensive threats, especially Vinicius Junior.
Vinicius has four goals and one assist in four appearances at this year’s World Cup.
“The left and right backs are important, but it’s also about helping the full backs so they don’t face one-on-one situations, situations where you have to get up and do it alone,” Solbakken added on how to stop the Real Madrid star.
“We also hope that our zone style of play can help, so no matter who plays in the back positions, they will be supported by the next player.”
Brazil, however, has averaged 15.0 shots per game in the World Cup (60 shots in four games), its second-lowest average on record (since 1966) in a single edition, ahead only of 1998 (14.4). However, his xG per shot is the highest on record in this time (0.16), suggesting that the average quality of his chances is higher.
This will be the fifth meeting between the two nations in all competitions, and the second in the World Cup, following a 2-1 victory for Norway in 1998, and Solbakken is optimistic that his team can repeat the feat, but only if they are at their best.
“I don’t think they’re big, big favorites like maybe they were a few years ago,” Solbakken said.
“We have had a very good run for a long time, we have great confidence and we also have a good style of playing with the ball, and I think that helps us.
“I think it is difficult to put a precise percentage [on our chances]whether it’s 60-40, or 70-30 or whatever, the important thing is that we can hurt Brazil on our day, but we still have to give our best, otherwise we have no chance. But if we’re at our best, then we have a chance.”
