Ståle Solbakken ahead of Senegal – Norway: “We must preserve our identity”
Just hours before the clash between Senegal and Norway, part of the second matchday of Group I in the 2026 World Cup, Norwegian coach Ståle Solbakken expressed his confidence while emphasizing the respect he has for the Lions of Teranga. In a press conference, the Scandinavian tactician responded to statements from Pape Thiaw, who claimed his players were ready to “die on the pitch” to win this match. Solbakken believes his team shares that same determination and will approach this encounter with the ambition to take all three points.
The Norwegian coach believes the stakes are the same for both teams.
According to him, Senegal will naturally seek to impose themselves, but Norway also has strong arguments to achieve their goal. He stressed the importance of playing conditions and the experience his players have gained at this stadium. This familiarity could provide a significant advantage when facing such an intense match. However, Solbakken reminded that this factor alone won’t guarantee a positive result and that his team must perform at a high level right from the kickoff.
In his match analysis, the Norwegian coach emphasized several key aspects. He wants to see his players enter the game immediately, with focus and intensity. He believes the quality of the warm-up and the ability to quickly adapt to the match’s rhythm will be crucial. He also thinks the speed of the playing surface should favor his team’s ball circulation. However, he warned his players against losing possession in dangerous areas, a particularly high risk against Senegalese attackers who can break forward quickly.
When asked how Norway plans to approach this confrontation, Solbakken explained that he is primarily seeking a balance between caution and ambition. He doesn’t want his players to abandon their playing identity just because they are facing a formidable opponent. On the contrary, he believes the best approach is to stay true to the principles that have allowed the Norwegian team to progress in recent years. At the same time, he acknowledges that some tactical adjustments will be necessary to limit Senegal’s preferred pathways and reduce the impact of their offensive transitions.
The Norwegian coach also offered a glowing analysis of the Senegalese team. He describes the Lions as a very strong side, with great collective quality and numerous individuals capable of making a difference at any moment. According to him, Senegal has enough strengths to pose problems for any national team. Despite this, Solbakken refuses to focus solely on the opponent. His main objective remains his team’s ability to maintain their identity, both when they have the ball and when they need to defend.
“The most important thing for me is we keep our identity with or without the ball”- Norway 🇳🇴 coach Ståle Solbakken on facing Senegal 🇸🇳 #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/IY6Jq7Hogl
— Eric Njiru ⚽️ (@EricNjiiru) June 22, 2026
Finally, Ståle Solbakken discussed the challenge posed by Sadio Mané. The Norwegian coach did not hide his admiration for the Senegalese forward, whom he considers one of the best players of his generation. He recalled Mané’s remarkable journey in Europe, from Southampton to Liverpool and then Bayern Munich, highlighting the impact he has had at the highest level. Aware of the danger posed by the Lions’ captain, Solbakken assured that his team will implement the necessary measures to try to contain him. However, he acknowledges that slowing down a player of Mané’s caliber remains a particularly complex task.
