Haaland Benched, Coach Explains
Norway coach defends 'no-brainer' decision to sit Erling Haaland for World Cup match
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Norway coach Ståle Solbakken made one of the boldest calls of the 2026 World Cup on June 26 — benching Erling Haaland, Martin Ødegaard, and eight other starters against France. The result was a 4-1 thrashing, with Ousmane Dembélé scoring a hat-trick in just 32 minutes against Norway's second-string defense, according to NBC Sports.
Solbakken was unapologetic after the match. He called the decision a "no-brainer," saying the priority was "charging up the batteries" for the knockout stage. Norway still advances to the Round of 32, where they face Ivory Coast on Tuesday in Arlington, Texas, FotMob confirmed.
Ten Changes at Once: A Historic Gamble by Solbakken
Norway made 10 changes to their starting lineup — one of the most extreme rotations in World Cup history. According to FotMob, Norway became only the fourth team ever to make 10 or more changes in a single tournament edition, joining Spain (2006), Belgium (2018), and Brazil (2022). Haaland and captain Ødegaard were named as substitutes and never came on.
Solbakken had telegraphed the move. At a pre-match press conference in Boston on June 25, he described the 48-team tournament as a "pressure cooker" and warned that tough physical decisions were coming, Sports Illustrated reported. Norway had already secured a spot in the Round of 32 after beating Iraq 4-1 and Senegal 3-2, so the group finale carried no stakes for advancement.
Dembélé Runs Riot as Fans Chant for Haaland
Without Haaland to hold back France's defensive line, France's back four played high and aggressive. The Guardian noted that Dembélé and Kylian Mbappé swarmed the Norwegian half virtually unopposed. Dembélé completed his hat-trick in just 32 minutes, according to The Independent.
The 65,000-plus crowd at Gillette Stadium grew restless. By the 60th minute, fans were chanting "We want Haaland," The Mirror reported. Tickets for the match had peaked at around $850 on the resale market — a price many felt was justified only if the world's top striker actually played.
Haaland's Golden Boot Hopes Take a Hit
The benching carries real individual costs. Haaland entered the match tied for second in the Golden Boot race with 4 goals. He is now behind Lionel Messi (5 goals) and level with Dembélé and Mbappé, who both gained ground on him, according to VAVEL. He was an unused substitute for the entire 90 minutes.
Before this match, Norway had won 15 straight games when Haaland scored, Sports Illustrated noted. Haaland himself appeared relaxed about it all. On June 23, he told media, "I don't care... they'll probably beat us," The Straits Times reported. French defender Jules Koundé was less laid-back, admitting, "I would lie if I said I wasn't a little bit surprised" by the Norwegian lineup, per Washington Post.
Norway's Bet Now Rides on the Ivory Coast Match
Solbakken's gamble will be judged entirely on what happens next. Norway now face Ivory Coast in the Round of 32 on Tuesday. A loss would trigger fierce debate back home about why a fully rested Haaland and Ødegaard were held back against France only to lose in the very next round, OSEN reported.
Norwegian media have largely backed Solbakken so far. Outlets like Aftenposten framed the move as "smart over greedy," according to Athlon. Roy Keane offered a similar take on ITV, noting that France and Norway have "different expectations" — France must win the tournament, while Norway simply needed to reach the knockouts, per Sportskeeda.
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