Martin Odegaard, captain of the Norway national team,, spoke about facing England in the quarter-finals of the 2026 World Cup.
The Norway vs England match will be held next Sunday at Miami Stadium.
Odegaard said: "There wasn't much joking around. I talked to some of them a little during the tournament".
He added: "Obviously, we are fully aware of the level they have, I know them well, they are distinguished world-class players, and they represent what is probably one of the best teams in the world currently, so this match will be a big test for us".
He pointed out: "Declan Rice is a player who gives everything he has for the team, fights for every ball, pumps a lot of energy into the team's performance and pushes it forward. He can play many roles on the pitch; he is good at defense and attack, has a strong physical presence, and is excellent in dealing with the ball, he is a very complete player, and will be an important test for all of us. But it's not just about Declan, the English national team has a group of wonderful players. It's a big confrontation and we're excited about it. And we hope to be able to write a new page in history".
He continued: "I think the situation was similar against Brazil in the round of 16, as we were not the favorites to win, but as you saw, anything is possible in football. We will do our best and see what we can achieve, and we are looking forward to this match".
He concluded: "We have to believe in our abilities, we have shown the world that we are a good team. In football, anything is possible. And although we are classified again as the underdogs, let's wait and see what happens, while making sure to prepare in the best possible way".
