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What did Solbakken do?
In a decision that surprised everyone ahead of the crucial battle with France, Norway coach Stolle Solbakken ignited the third round of the 2026 World Cup group stage with radical changes that affected the stability of the starting line-up. It’s a risky tactical move that puts the Vikings at odds with history and with Kylian Mbappe’s side looking to take an unassailable lead.
According to the Opta Football Statistics Network, Norway have become only the fourth team in World Cup history to make more than 10 changes to their starting line-up in a single match in the same edition of the tournament.
The composition of the Norwegian team was as follows.
Goalkeeper: Egil Selvik.
Defence: Leo Östegaard – Fredrik Andre Bjorkan – Henrik Walschner.
Midfield: Patrick Berg – Frederik Orsens – Christian Thorstedt – Thilo Asgard.
Attack: Andreas Schildrup – Jürgen Strand Larsen – Oskar Papp.
Norwegian team coach Stolle Solbakken surprised everyone by not including “Manchester City” striker Erling Holland in the starting lineup.
10 – 🇳🇴 Norway are only the fourth side to make 10+ starting line-up changes for the same FIFA World Cup, after…
🇪🇸 Spain in 2006 (11 vs Saudi Arabia)
🇧🇪 Belgium in 2018 (10 vs Japan)
🇧🇷 Brazil in 2022 (10 vs Korea Republic)Wholesale sales. pic.twitter.com/5NBRLFwxL3
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) June 26, 2026
Coach Stolle Solbakken’s bold move put Norway alongside the three main teams that had preceded this exceptional record. According to the network, Norway became only the fourth team in World Cup history to make more than 10 changes to their starting lineup in a single game in the same draw of the tournament.
With this number, Norway enters a limited club that includes major teams. Spain started at the 2006 World Cup when they made 11 changes against Saudi Arabia, then Belgium followed in the 2018 edition with ten changes against Japan, before Brazil repeated the same at the 2022 World Cup with ten changes against South Korea.
Solbakken’s decision comes as he is barred from testing as Norway face France at the end of the group stage in a qualifier, and the wide-ranging changes reflect either overconfidence in the bench or a tactical maneuver to counter France’s power in the middle led by Kylian Mbappe.
