Norway manager Stale Solbakken has labeled England as favorites to reach the semi-finals of the World Cup, though he emphasized the margin is not significant. The two nations meet in Miami on Saturday, with Norway having notably eliminated five-time champions Brazil in the previous round. Solbakken acknowledged the pressure on England but believes his squad, featuring Premier League stars like Erling Haaland and Martin Odegaard, can rise to the challenge.

Both teams boast prolific strikers, with Haaland having scored seven goals in Norway's historic run to their first World Cup quarter-final since 1998. England captain Harry Kane is also in strong form with six goals. Solbakken, however, cautioned against focusing solely on the two forwards, stressing the collective strength of both Norway and England, citing players like Jude Bellingham and Declan Rice.

Norway's journey has captured national attention, bringing the country together. Solbakken reflected on his team's tactical approach, noting they expect less possession against England than they had against Brazil. The focus for Norway is on maintaining freshness and executing their game plan effectively. The winner of this quarter-final will advance to face either Argentina or Switzerland in the semi-finals.