Solbakken's Norway and Potter's Sweden will face each other at Ullevål in Oslo tonight.
Norway is missing its superstars Erling Braut Haaland and Martin Ødegaard; Sweden is playing without Viktor Gyökeres, and Potter is at least busy finalising his squad.
Praise on both sides
That doesn't stop the national team captains from heaping praise on each other.
I have followed Potter and have a lot of respect for his career. He is a very good coach. In a very short time he has left his mark on Sweden. Sweden has always had a good defensive game and has been difficult to score against. They have always been well organized. That was Sweden in the playoff matches against Ukraine and Poland, Solbakken says to TV4 Football Channel.
"I have great respect for Ståle and what he has achieved. They attack really well, they vary the game, they defend well. It will be a useful test for us," Potter says.
Solbakken tells TV4 Football Channel that Potter is the right man for Sweden and he gives his view on why it didn't work under Dahl Tomasson.
For me it's a bit about the way Sweden played football. I don't think Sweden, in terms of culture and tradition, or the Swedish players, were used to kamikaze football. It's not that I don't respect or understand the attempt. But if the opponent has equally good players or better players and you play that type of football, you will lose more often than you win.
Put under pressure
There were so many spaces and the opponents got so many chances. That's what happened. It was a very open match. That put Sweden's three defenders under enormous pressure. Same with the goalkeeper.
Center back Isak Hien, team captain tonight, on Solbakken's claim about "kamikaze football":
I don't know if I would have expressed myself that way, but I understand. We played quite openly and that puts you in different situations.
When asked about Potter's importance to the upswing since last fall, Hien replies:
We play in a different way. I really feel like we've found security and stability in a short time, which is difficult.
