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Why Is Antonio Nusa on the Bench for Norway Against England at the FIFA World Cup 2026?
The RB Leipzig forward had been a regular starter for Norway throughout the tournament, making his place on the bench for Saturday's World Cup quarterfinal a surprise.
There was plenty of excitement surrounding Saturday's FIFA World Cup 2026 quarterfinal between Norway and England, which is why it came as a surprise to see Antonio Nusa left out of the starting lineup.
A NEW SUPER SUB?
The Norway forward begins the match on the bench at Miami Stadium after head coach Ståle Solbakken opted to make a change. The Norwegian manager has drawn criticism throughout the tournament for his squad rotation and tactical decisions.
According to multiple reports from the Norwegian media, the 21-year-old paid the price for his disappointing performance against Brazil in the Round of 16, where he was substituted at halftime.
His place in the starting XI goes to Andreas Schjelderup of Benfica. Will the move pay off?
Either way, Nusa is available to come off the bench at any point in the match, and given his quality, he could still make a major impact. Will he be more effective as a super sub?
HOW HAS ANTONIO NUSA PERFORMED AT 2026 WORLD CUP?
Nusa has started four of Norway's six matches at the 2026 World Cup, featuring against Iraq, Senegal, Ivory Coast, and Brazil. He scored Norway's opening goal in the 2-1 Round of 32 victory over Ivory Coast.
This is only the second time the 21-year-old has begun a match on the bench. His first came against France, when he was introduced as a substitute in the 83rd minute.
Interestingly, Nusa has yet to play a full 90 minutes in the tournament. He logged 73 minutes against Iraq, 71 against Senegal, 71 against Ivory Coast, and 45 against Brazil, where he was substituted at halftime.
Regardless of the lineup change, Norway has been one of the biggest surprises of the 2026 World Cup. The Scandinavian side reached the quarterfinals for the first time in its history and now has its sights set on a place in the semifinals.
