‘We are not a low-block team’ – Norway to take the game to Portugal

Syndicated reporting provided by Stats Perform and reviewed by the SoccerNews editorial team.

Stale Solbakken insisted his Norway side “are not a low-block team” as they plan to play on the front foot against Portugal.

Norway have won just one of their three Nations League games during this break (L2), most recently losing 2-1 to Wales after Torbjorn Heggem was sent off early in the second half.

Their other defeat came against Portugal in the reverse fixture, with Jorge Jesus’ side picking up a 2-1 win in Norway.

In that match, Norway won the expected goals (xG) battle 2.52 to 1.04, creating six Opta-defined big chances and retaining 62% of possession.

Solbakken acknowledged it could be harder to dominate away from home against Portugal, but he insists his players will not sit back at the Estadio Do Dragao.

“We are not a low-block team. Always with our heads up, looking for the goal. I think the players also feel that we can take the game to Portugal’s goal,” said Solbakken.

— Fotballandslaget (@nff_landslag) October 2, 2026

“I have great respect for Portugal. The team is in the top two or top three in Europe at the moment.

“Portugal presses very well, with high intensity, and we have to think differently. In the first game, we managed to play through the central corridor, but now I think they will have a different plan. We have to be able to adapt to the circumstances.

“It was probably one of the best games we’ve ever played, in the first 60 minutes against Portugal. Hopefully, we can repeat that.

“Now it might be different, because Portugal are playing at home, but we’ll give our best and see how far we can go.”

Norway have lost nine of their 12 matches against Portugal (75% – W1 D2), their third-highest loss percentage against all opponents they faced more than five times (83% against the USSR, 77% against Yugoslavia).

They have conceded at least twice in each of their last four games; the last time they saw their opponents score at least two times in five consecutive games was in 1975-1976 (six).

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