Norway captain Erling Haaland has thrown his full support behind head coach Stale Solbakken following widespread criticism over the team’s heavily rotated lineup in the 4-1 defeat to France at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Despite the disappointing result, Haaland insisted the controversial decision to rest several of Norway’s biggest stars was the right one, arguing that France were simply the superior side and would likely have won regardless of who started.
The Manchester City striker believes preserving the fitness of key players for the knockout rounds gives Norway a greater opportunity to make history in the tournament than risking fatigue in a group-stage encounter where qualification had already been secured.
His comments come after Solbakken faced intense criticism from supporters and football analysts for making 10 changes to his starting eleven against one of the strongest teams in the competition.
Solbakken Prioritised the Bigger Picture
Norway entered their final Group I fixture with qualification for the Round of 32 already within reach, although finishing first remained mathematically possible.
Rather than fielding his strongest available side, Solbakken opted for sweeping changes, leaving several influential players on the bench.
Only midfielder Frederik Aursnes retained his place from the previous match, while leading stars including Erling Haaland, Martin Odegaard and Antonio Nusa were all rested.
The decision surprised many observers, especially considering the importance of securing top spot in the group.
France quickly took advantage of Norway’s inexperienced lineup, producing an impressive attacking display that ended in a comfortable 4-1 victory for Les Bleus.
Although the defeat ended Norway’s hopes of winning the group, Solbakken remained convinced he had made the correct decision.
Speaking after the match, the Norwegian manager insisted his responsibility extends beyond a single game.
“I would make the same decision again immediately,” Solbakken said.
“We came here with the ambition of progressing as far as possible in this tournament. Every decision I make is based on giving this team the best chance of succeeding.”
The coach admitted he sympathised with supporters who travelled expecting to see Norway’s biggest stars in action.
“The only people I really feel sorry for are the travelling fans who wanted to watch Erling, Martin and the other key players.”
Haaland Fully Supports His Manager
Rather than questioning the tactical approach, Haaland immediately defended his coach’s decision.
The striker explained that Norway’s priority should always be the knockout stages rather than exhausting important players in the closing group fixture.
According to Haaland, France were operating at such a high level that even Norway’s first-choice lineup would have struggled to secure a positive result.
“I said before the match that I did not mind the decision, and I still feel exactly the same,” Haaland explained.
“France were simply the better team.”
“Even if we had played with our strongest eleven, I honestly do not believe we would have beaten them.”
The comments demonstrate the unity within the Norwegian camp despite external criticism surrounding Solbakken’s team selection.
France Impress One of Europe’s Best Strikers
Haaland also used the opportunity to praise France, describing Didier Deschamps’ squad as one of the strongest teams in world football.
He highlighted the remarkable quality throughout the French squad, pointing to the abundance of elite attacking talent available to the reigning European powerhouse.
According to the Norwegian captain, France possess match winners in every area of the pitch.
“They have world class players everywhere,” Haaland said.
“You look at players like Kylian Mbappe, Michael Olise and Ousmane Dembele, and then more quality continues to come from the bench.”
“They will cause problems for every team in this tournament.”
“What they showed against us was frightening.”
France’s dominant performance strengthened their status as one of the favourites to lift the 2026 FIFA World Cup trophy after completing the group stage with a perfect record.
Norway Focused on Knockout Success
Although the defeat generated negative headlines, Norway remain determined to ensure the long term benefits of Solbakken’s rotation strategy become clear in the knockout phase.
The rested stars are expected to return refreshed when Norway face Ivory Coast in the Round of 32.
The coaching staff believes the additional recovery time could prove invaluable as the physical demands of the tournament continue to increase.
Haaland, Odegaard and Nusa are all expected to return to the starting lineup, providing Norway with significantly greater attacking quality than was available against France.
The players themselves have also embraced the manager’s long term vision, recognising that World Cup success depends on maintaining fitness over several high intensity matches rather than focusing on individual group fixtures.
A Gamble That Could Define Norway’s Tournament
Solbakken’s bold decision has divided football opinion.
Some observers argue Norway surrendered an opportunity to build confidence by competing with their strongest team against one of the tournament favourites.
Others believe protecting key players was a sensible move given the demanding schedule and the importance of remaining physically fresh for elimination matches.
Ultimately, the manager’s decision will be judged by Norway’s performances in the knockout rounds.
If Norway overcome Ivory Coast and continue progressing, Solbakken’s rotation policy could be remembered as a masterstroke.
If they fall at the first knockout hurdle, questions surrounding the decision to rest so many first team players against France are certain to return.
For now, however, Haaland has made one thing clear.
The Norwegian captain believes his manager acted in the best interests of the team and remains convinced that France’s exceptional quality meant the result would likely have been the same regardless of who represented Norway on the pitch.
