2026 World Cup: Solbakken Wary Of Ivory Coast’s Physical Threat Ahead Of Norway Clash

Norway head coach Ståle Solbakken has labelled Ivory Coast the most physically demanding side his team has faced at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, warning that matching their strength will be crucial in the last-16 showdown at Dallas Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

Solbakken said Norway cannot afford to be overpowered if they hope to keep their World Cup dream alive.

“They are a very, very physical team, very strong, and that’s the first thing we have to match,” he said.

“And if we match that, then we can keep our identity defensively and offensively, we have a chance.

“But I think it will be a very even, tight game where it can go either way in terms of who is the match winner, who has a little bit of luck on their side.”

The Norwegian boss admitted that his side has adopted a possession-based style influenced by Pep Guardiola’s philosophy, but stressed that technical quality alone will not be enough against an Ivory Coast team renowned for its pace, power, and direct attacking play.

Solbakken also reserved special praise for striker Erling Haaland, who has already netted four goals in the group stage, describing the 25-year-old as one of the finest forwards in world football.

“He’s a great leader for us, he leads by example on the pitch,” he said. “I think that he also gets great physicality from his mother or his father, maybe his mother.

“He has something that maybe you can’t train so much to reach it, the sniff for goals, the feeling that the ball will land at your feet or in that movement and I think that is his biggest strength, together obviously with his explosions, his physicality.

“That combined, and the understanding that he is a good teammate on and off the pitch, makes him one of the best players in the world.”