Norway's Solbakken warns team not to overlook Senegal as capable threat

[p]A [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/iraq-K8aAGt6r/norway-8rP6JO0H/?mid=n9TEVLhA"]4-1[/a] win over [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/iraq/K8aAGt6r/"]Iraq[/a], with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/haaland-erling/UmV9iQmE/"]‌Erling Haaland[/a] scoring twice, put [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/norway/8rP6JO0H/"]Norway[/a] top of Group I ahead ‌of [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/france/QkGeVG1n/"]France[/a] on goal difference after their first World Cup match in ‌28 years.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/senegal/hOIsJLJr/"]Senegal[/a], beaten [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/france-QkGeVG1n/senegal-hOIsJLJr/?mid=ALxYcMw2"]3-1[/a] by France, need a response at ‌New York/New Jersey Stadium on Monday to keep their last-32 hopes from slipping into danger.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/solbakken-stale/pxok8eTM/"]Solbakken[/a] said Norway would not be cowed by the occasion or the opponent, ‌but warned that Senegal demanded full respect.[/p][p][b]"I'm ⁠not afraid or anything tomorrow, but ‌have great respect for Senegal,"[/b] Solbakken told a press conference on Sunday.[/p][p][b]"They are ​a fast and quality side, and we will need to be ready to face that, defending their wingers and ​be wary of their counters. [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/mane-sadio/xxskxOU0/"]Sadio Mane[/a] is a great player, but the most important thing for me is that we keep our ⁠identity and follow what ​we do best."[/b][/p][embed guid="a5980467-cd07-45cb-ad20-1cda5fc2d761" url="https://x.com/EricNjiiru/status/2068858812157559229?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p]Norway swept through qualifying with eight wins from eight matches, scoring 37 goals, and victory would put them in contention to fight for first place in the group in a final match ‌against France. Solbakken, however, said Norway were not interested in calculations.[/p][p][b]"We are not doing maths or anything, we need to put in another good performance and keep improving, and think about qualification later at another point,"[/b] he said.[/p][p]Haaland will again carry much of Norway's attacking threat after his opening double, though Solbakken said the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/manchester-city/Wtn9Stg0/"]Manchester City[/a] forward needed the team around him to function.[/p][p][b]"Haaland is in great shape, and let's hope there is more to come,"[/b] he said. [b]"He needs help, and I hope we can help him too with great support.[/b][/p][p][b]"Let's hope ​he continues to bring us joy through goals."[/b][/p][embed guid="261b1582-966b-4ce1-9158-dfa67abd7e61" url="https://x.com/ErlingHaaland/status/2068786563639541963?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p]Solbakken also expressed ‌concern about the pitch.[/p][p][b]"We looked at the pitch, and it is a bit like artificial grass, short and hard underneath,"[/b] he said. [b]"It seems bad for teams who like to hold possession.[/b][/p][p][b]"Sure, if the pitch is dry, it would be a problem, but ⁠tomorrow the forecast is rain, so ⁠it should help. But ‌we can't do anything, it is what it is."[/b][/p][infobox id="4ccc1b10-d68f-4c97-bcf4-5e613c17c2e3" /]