Norway captain Martin Ødegaard is trying to keep the laughs to a minimum as his team turns its attention to England in a World Cup quarter-final, a match that will place club teammates on the international stage and set up a fascinating test of familiarity.
Ødegaard, who also leads Arsenal in club football, will come up against several fellow Premier League winners when Norway meet England at Miami Stadium on Saturday. The list includes Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka, Noni Madueke and Eberechi Eze.
The midfielder said he has exchanged words with some of them during the tournament, but insists the focus now is entirely on the competitive job in front of him rather than friendly conversation.
“Not too much (banter). I’ve spoken to a few of them a little bit during the tournament,” Ødegaard said to reporters on Wednesday, smiling as he addressed the prospect of facing teammates.
He added: “Obviously we know the quality they have. I know them really well. Outstanding players, world-class players, playing for probably one of the best national teams in the world at the moment, so it’s going to be a big test for us.”
Ødegaard singled out Rice for particular praise, highlighting the midfielder’s importance in England’s structure and suggesting that could make the middle of the pitch a key battleground in the quarter-final.
“He’s someone who always gives absolutely everything for the team, always fighting for every single ball, bringing his energy to the pitch, to the team, driving the team forward,” Ødegaard said.
“He can do so many things on the pitch. He can defend, he can attack, he can be physical, he can be good on the ball. He’s a very complete player, so it’s going to be a good test for all of us.”
He continued: “And it’s not just about Declan, but the whole team has unbelievable players. It’s a massive test and we’re looking forward to it. Hopefully we can make even more history.”
Norway will carry confidence into the last-eight meeting after their upset win over Brazil in the previous round, a result that secured a quarter-final place for the first time in their history. Ødegaard believes that belief can still fuel another surprise, even if the underdog label is once again expected to follow them.
“I think Brazil (in the last 16) was the same, we were the underdogs and, as you saw, anything can happen in football,” he said. “We’re going to give it a good try, see what we can do and are looking forward to it.”
He added: “We have to have the belief in ourselves. We’ve shown the whole world that we’re a good team. In football, anything is possible. Even though we’re the underdogs again, let’s see what happens and let’s prepare well.”
