Norway coach Ståle Solbakken rejects claims that England’s best players have an advantage because many of them play in the Premier League. In comments ahead of their World Cup quarter-final, Solbakken argues that England’s strongest squad members are not necessarily drawn from the Premier League, and therefore do not automatically benefit from league experience compared with Norway’s players. The argument addresses a narrative that England’s pool of top-tier talent is strengthened by constant, high-level domestic competition, but Solbakken does not endorse that view.
Both reports focus on his dismissal of the idea that playing in England’s top flight translates into a competitive edge in the specific tournament match-up. The coverage frames the statement as part of Solbakken’s broader effort to set expectations for the quarter-final, emphasizing that team performance in the game is not determined solely by where players are based or which domestic league they represent. The statements are presented as pre-match commentary and do not indicate any changes to squad selection.
