Norway coach Stale Solbakken reacts to controversial England goal in World Cup quarter-final defeat

Norway's national team boss Stale Solbakken expressed his disbelief over a controversial goal scored by Jude Bellingham during their 2-1 defeat to England in the 2026 World Cup quarter-finals. The incident, which occurred right before half-time, has left Solbakken questioning the decision-making process of VAR.

Controversial Goal Sparks Outrage

The match took place on Friday, and Norway had been largely dominant in the first half. Solbakken noted that the goal came just two passes after a goal kick, during which the ball apparently struck an overhead television cable, causing it to change direction. In his own words, Solbakken stated,

“The ball fell straight down from the sky and changed directions.”

This incident led to frustrations for both Solbakken and his players, particularly Erling Haaland, who was visibly upset by the lack of VAR intervention. Solbakken continued,

“We can sit here and complain and maybe we can feel rightly that the small details did not go in our favor.”

Norway's Performance and Future Prospects

Despite the controversial goal, Norway's performance in the tournament was commendable. Solbakken praised his team for being able to “go toe-to-toe” with some of the world’s best teams. He acknowledged that while they faced tough competition, the team showed potential and resilience throughout the tournament.

In addition to discussing the goal, Solbakken addressed the decision to substitute Haaland late in the game, revealing that Haaland had sustained a minor injury, which contributed to the decision.

“He obviously had a tremendous World Cup,”

Solbakken remarked, highlighting Haaland's impressive tally of seven goals in five matches.

England's Luck and Strategic Reflections

England's head coach Thomas Tuchel admitted that his side had benefited from luck during crucial moments of the match. He acknowledged the challenges faced by his team and noted areas for improvement. Bellingham, who scored the equalizing goal, was reportedly not pleased with Tuchel's comments about their performance, but Tuchel reassured that he is

“fully in love”

with his team.

The match highlighted the unpredictable nature of football, where moments of luck can significantly influence outcomes. As Norway reflects on their performance, Solbakken remains optimistic about the future of his squad in international competitions.