Ståle Solbakken honored in hometown following World Cup exit

Norway national team manager Ståle Solbakken and assistant Kent Bergersen were honored in their hometown of Kirkenær, Grue, following their participation in the World Cup. Approximately 500 residents attended the event held at the Grue Town Hall cinema to celebrate the duo, who were awarded the ‘Year’s Municipality Influencers’ prize.

During the ceremony, Solbakken reflected on the World Cup, describing Erling Braut Haaland’s performance against Brazil in the round of 16 as a personal highlight. He also discussed the emotional difficulty of Norway’s quarter-final exit against England in Miami. Solbakken noted that the team struggled with the loss and the controversial officiating decisions, including a VAR annulment and a play involving a TV cable, which he believes impacted their chances of reaching a semi-final.

Solbakken expressed that it took over a month to revisit the footage of the England match due to the lingering disappointment. Looking ahead, the manager indicated that there will be minor changes to the squad for upcoming Nations League and European Championship qualifying matches.