Solbakken defends choice to spare Haaland and Ødegaard in Norway's heavy defeat against France
After ten starting changes, Norway lost 4-1 to a supreme France. National coach Solbakken defends his choice to spare Haaland and Ødegaard, among others, with a view to the upcoming knockout match against Ivory Coast.
Norway had to make a major impact on their goal difference in the last group match at the 2026 World Cup. Without star players Erling Haaland and Martin Ødegaard, who were spared by national coach Ståle Solbakken, the Scandinavians lost 4-1 to France. Solbakken chose to change ten players compared to the match against Senegal (3-2 win); after all, the qualification for the next round had already been completed.
France left no doubt at the Boston Stadium and led 3-1 at half time, thanks in part to a flawless hat-trick from Ousmane Dembélé after 32 minutes - the second fastest in World Cup history. Thelo Aasgaard did something back just before half-time, but Jorgen Strand Larsen saw his penalty saved by Mike Maignan in the second half. In the final minutes, Désiré Doué determined the final score.
Solbakken defended his surprising personnel choices afterwards. "It was a logical decision for me, the medical staff and some players themselves. Everyone realized that it was physically difficult for many after an intensive process. We want to get as far as possible at this World Cup and need to recharge the batteries," said the Norwegian national coach. He acknowledged that supporters would have liked to see Haaland and Ødegaard, but emphasized that the interests of the team come first: "Otherwise our World Cup won't last long and that's not what we came for."
With this defeat, Norway finishes second in the group. In the next round, a tough showdown awaits with Ivory Coast, which has reached the knockout phase of the World Cup for the first time in history. Solbakken expects a physical match: "Against Ivory Coast it is fifty-fifty. We have to be top fit."
Solbakken was clear about the match against France: "We got in our way by losing the ball, so guys like Dembélé and Mbappé struck immediately. On the positive side: we also created great chances ourselves, both before and after half-time." Statistically special: Dembélé and Mbappé, together with the duos Szarmach-Lato (Poland, 1974) and Klose-Ballack (Germany, 2002), are the third couple to score five goals in a World Cup match since 1966.
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