Norway switched hotels in Miami one night after checking into its previous accommodation, moving the squad out of the Dalmar Hotel in Fort Lauderdale within two-and-a-half hours. The change came after complaints about noise and disruption from the road outside and a nearby construction site.
The move landed in the middle of a crowded build-up to Saturday night’s quarter-final against England, a match Norway sees as the biggest in its history. The squad is already dealing with an illness that has run through the group since Sunday, and Stale Solbakken said the affected players are recovering.
That is the backdrop to a team that has already spent six weeks in the United States and is now staying near the Hard Rock Stadium, with another week in Miami still ahead. Norway got here after a run that included a 2-1 win over Ivory Coast, a brace from Erling Haaland in the victory over Brazil, and a defeat only to France in the final group match, results that sent the side into the quarter-finals for the first time in its history.
There was friction in the move, but also a clear sense that the players had pushed for it themselves. Truls Daehli said it was brutal to shift hotels, though the new place was satisfactory, and he said some people might have feared the disruption would affect the squad; instead, he said, the players wanted action more than anyone else and wanted to avoid any risk to the atmosphere. He added that the support staff handled the transfer quickly.
Fifa accepted that Norway had to move and agreed to pay for 50 rooms plus security at the new hotel, while the Norwegian FA was left to cover extra charges tied to the upgrade the players wanted. Daehli said the team did not want cabin fever after so long away from home, and the next test comes on Saturday night, when the hotel move will be over but the pressure of England will not be.
