2026 World Cup | Which Norway players could pose a threat to France? | OneFootball

The star player 

Erling Haaland should prove a scary proposition for defenders at this World Cup. Going up against the Manchester City striker tests your physical and mental stamina. If you give him a second or 10 centimeters, you’ll probably be punished. For more than 90 years Jørgen Juve held the record for most goals for Norway. His tally of 33 seemed impossible to pass. None of Ole Gunnar Solskjær, Tore André Flo or John Carew came close. Then Haaland burst onto the scene, surpassing Juve at the age of just 24 when he scored his 34th goal in his 36th appearance. Can a Haaland-inspired Norway shock the football world this summer? Of course they can. Because when you have Erling Braut Haaland up front, you can beat anyone.

The one to watch

Antonio Nusa has idolised Neymar throughout his career and there are some similarities between the two. Like the Brazilian great, Christianity is very important to Nusa, while on the pitch the wideman is able to elicit a gasp from supporters when he receives the ball and speeds towards the defenders. But unlike the much-criticised former PSG star, Nusa has never courted controversy. “I always point to God when I score and when I come onto the pitch. I thank God that I can experience this,” he told Norwegian newspaper Aftenposten in 2023. Just before the World Cup, Nusa released his own book – a manual for children who dream of becoming top footballers. Not everyone who reads it will become a professional of course, but if you follow Nusa’s advice, you will most likely at least become a good person. The 21-year-old has been with RB Leipzig since 2024. 

The unsung hero

Sander Berge provides vital balance for Norway behind their talented front line. The rangy Fulham midfielder offers composure on the ball plus an ability to cover space, which are crucial attributes for Solbakken’s side. His importance to the team was evidenced before a crucial qualifier against Estonia last June, when Berge became father for the first time. Norway were in danger of missing him, before the Norwegian Football Federation intervened to pay for a private plane to take him to Tallinn. Norway won the game, and Berge was one of the best players on the pitch. At the time of writing he has only scored one international goal, and he rarely steals the headlines, but his value to the national team is almost immeasurable.

This is a piece from Simen Stamsø-Møller and Vegard Bjelland for TV 2 Norway as part of the Guardian Sports Network

GFFN | Luke Entwistle