Norway coach Stale Solbakken admits he used to be an Anglophile with a love for Kevin Keegan. Like many Scandinavians, Solbakken grew up watching English football with his favourite player being Keegan, who starred in the top flight for Liverpool and Southampton, either side of a spell in Germany with Hamburg. He later played and managed Newcastle, as well as the Three Lions.Solbakken, 58, revealed one particular memory of how Keegan broke his heart during the 1982 World Cup.My worst World Cup moment involved Kevin Keegan, he said in remarks reported by Dagbladet. He was finally going to play his first World Cup because England didnt qualify in 1974 or 1978. Then he gets a back injury and hes in a car all over Europe to get his back in order.Keegan secretly hired a car and drove from Spain to a specialist he knew in Germany for treatment.Solbakken continued: He and Trevor Brooking come on with 20 minutes left against Spain, and he misses a [point-blank] header. I collapsed. It was 0-0. Back then it was England, Germany and Spain in a group of three. England had to win by two, and my dear Kevin missed itSay hello to Kevin, I hope he sees the game Norway boss SolbakkenKeegan, a two-time European Footballer of the Year, recently revealed he has stage four cancer.Solbakken said: You have to say hello to Kevin, hes sick. So I hope he gets to see the game. I was a real Anglophile at that time.Solbakken will put his love of England to one side at the weekend when he leads his Norway side into a World Cup quarter-final meeting with Thomas Tuchels men.Norway secured their place in the last four thanks to a 2-1 win over five-time champions Brazil, Erling Haaland scoring twice late on.England were also made to work hard, emerging 3-2 winners against Mexico following an emotional night at the Azteca. Topics England National Football Team Norway National Football Team Add us as a preferred source on Google If you enjoy reading this article, you can help support our independent football journalism by adding 101 Great Goals as a preferred source You Should Also Read World Cup 2026: Where to watch England games on TV, full BBC and ITV knockout stage listings, confirmed channels, schedule, live online streams, kick off times Ben Miller 6th July, 2026 FIFA World Cup 2026: Full England fixtures, results, schedule, confirmed squad, next match, kick off times Ben Miller 6th July, 2026 We left everything out there Kane and Tuchel hail England determination after winning World Cup classic with Mexico Mitch Fretton 6th July, 2026 Mexico 2-3 England: Report, result and goals as brilliant Three Lions fend off hosts with 10-men Mitch Fretton 7th July, 2026 WATCH: Bellingham bags 90-second brace before Mexico hit back against England Mitch Fretton 7th July, 2026 Haaland hails insane day as Norway stun Brazil to reach World Cup quarter-finals Mitch Fretton 7th July, 2026
