Okay, hold up. Did everyone just see that? Norway, man! They absolutely stomped Brazil 2-1 in the Round of 16! That's it, that's the headline. You can't make this stuff up, they just took down one of the giants and are now heading straight into the World Cup quarter-finals.
Odegaard Says England Has "Outstanding Players"
But the party's gotta wait, because Norway's captain, Martin Odegaard, is already locked in on their next opponent: Thomas Tuchel's England. And listen, Odegaard ain't holding back on his praise, calling England "one of the best national teams in the world." He knows these guys, too, many of them from his time at Arsenal or just playing in the Premier League. He's talked to a few of them during the tournament, and he's seen firsthand the "quality they have." He straight up says they're "outstanding players, world-class players." It's clear he respects them big time. England, by the way, fought their way past co-hosts Mexico 3-2, even after going down to ten-men. Talk about drama!
"Anything Can Happen in Football"
So yeah, it's gonna be a "big test" for Norway. Odegaard knows it. But remember that Brazil game? He's got that same underdog fire. He pointed out that they were the underdogs against Brazil too, and as we all saw, "anything can happen in football." That's the spirit! He's ready to "give it a good try and see what we can do." And you gotta love his shoutout to his Arsenal teammate Declan Rice, calling him "massive" and "outstanding" and just an "unbelievable" player to share the pitch with. The respect is real, but so is the competitive fire.
This Saturday is gonna be electric, folks. A spot in the World Cup semi-finals is on the line. Norway's already proven they can defy expectations, and with Odegaard leading the charge, you know they're looking forward to this challenge. Let's go!
This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.