Solbaken: I had a good feeling about Haaland

Norway coach Stale Solbaken said after the victory over Iraq (4:1) in Foxborough that his team now deserves a short break, but also that they must use the break wisely before the next matches at the World Cup.

Solbakken pointed out that the players can now "recharge their batteries" before the next group match.

"I think they will be happy not to see me for the next two days. Many will have family visiting. They can train if they want, but if they want to play golf or rest, that's fine. It's important that they relax both mentally and physically," said the Norway coach.

He added that the pressure of the big competition was palpable, but that his team responded well.

"Everyone could feel that this was a big moment and a difficult tournament, and that's why a break is very important now," Solbakken said.

Speaking about Haaland, who scored two goals, the coach reiterated that the striker is fully ready for the biggest stage.

"He liked the atmosphere, he wasn't under too much pressure. I had a good feeling before the game, the last few practices were very good, so I believed he would play a good game," he pointed out.

Norway will face Senegal in the next round, having previously been defeated by France 1:3. Solbaken expects a much tougher match and warns that there is no room for underestimation.

"They will be two opponents who are probably closer to our level. Senegal looked very solid for large parts of the match, and that is what we need to focus on," concluded the Norway coach.