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Erling Haaland’s bobbing blonde hair is usually one of the easiest things to spot on a football pitch.
More often than not, it is charging into open space at full tilt, defenders scrambling in pursuit. That was not so much the case on Sunday, but still he scored twice, as Norway beat Brazil 2-1 to reach the quarter-finals of the World Cup for the first time.
The 25-year-old only had four touches inside the box in the last-16 tie – but with one of them, he broke the deadlock 79 minutes in.
And his second 11 minutes later – a low drive from outside the box – underlined the clinical edge that makes him one of the most feared strikers in world football as he moved level with France’s Kylian Mbappe and Argentina’s Lionel Messi at the top of the Golden Boot standings with seven goals.
“You don’t see any other player doing that,” former Scotland winger Pat Nevin called the winning goal on BBC Radio 5 Live. “There was not a chance there. There wasn’t a half chance, quarter chance. Nothing.”
“People constantly talk about how many touches he has,” said former England striker Ian Wright on ITV. “He didn’t have to have a lot of touches.”
Haaland’s goals meant Norway sealed a historic victory over the South Americans.
Competing at a World Cup for the first time since 1998, Stale Solbakken’s side now stand just three wins away from an unlikely world title with England or co-hosts Mexico to come next.
But with gamechanger Haaland in their ranks, Norway will believe anything is possible.
“He has given the whole country belief that they can go really far in this competition,” said Wayne Rooney on BBC One.
Haaland’s scary numbers for Norway
Image source, Getty ImagesHaaland’s international CV already had a five-goal haul against Moldova and another five hat-tricks.
“Haaland is a massive character, a personality,” former England defender Gary Neville told ITV. “Sometimes it’s said ‘he’s never done it on the world stage’ and that’s now been removed.”
Haaland has indeed delivered on the biggest stage with seven goals in four games.
The 25-year-old forward had scored twice against both Iraq and Senegal in the group stage before he was rested, as Norway made 10 changes, in a 4-1 defeat by France.
But it seems to have paid dividends with his double against Brazil adding to the late winner against Ivory Coast in the last 32.
Haaland has scored 62 goals in 54 senior internationals – averaging a goal every 71 minutes. More impressively, only six of those goals have been penalties.
The Manchester City striker has now scored in each of his past 14 competitive appearances for Norway, claiming 27 goals in that run.
You will have to go all the way back to October 2024 to find a competitive match in which he did not score for his nation – against Austria in the Nations League.
Haaland 1-0 Gabriel on international stage
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There was plenty of talk about Haaland’s battle with Brazil and Arsenal centre-back Gabriel before kick-off. In the latest chapter of a rivalry forged in the Premier League, Haaland had the final say.
Gabriel appeared to have the upper hand as Haaland was limited to only a single touch inside the box before the break. But as the game opened up, so too did the space for the Norway talisman – and Brazil were eventually made to pay.
It was Gabriel who Haaland beat for the header to pull his side ahead while the Brazilian was a mere spectator for his second.
Haaland only had 30 touches all game – the same as team-mate Antonio Nusa who was taken off at half-time – and completed just 13 passes.
His expected goals (xG) of 0.39 also suggested he was far from dominant but there was little doubt about who was Norway’s hero.
Former Arsenal defender Matt Upson told BBC Radio 5 Live: “Does he ever have many touches? Not really. This is how he plays and it is moments. Key moments when he turns up.”
Former Liverpool defender Stephen Warnock added: “I think he has averaged 14 touches a goal, which tells you everything about him.
“But what he does is he makes unselfish runs in behind, he pins defenders and allows that midfield area to get up.”
Haaland, himself, believes he is reaching a “new peak”.
“I peaked a couple of times in this tournament, but every now and then I get a new peak,” he said. “If I have a chance or two, then very often I score. I’m not quite sure, but this is what I do.
“It’s all about being focused and taking the chances I get. And I normally get them even if I don’t score on the first one.”
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‘One of the most insane days in Norwegian history’
Long before kick-off, thousands of Norway supporters had gathered outside the stadium, many draped in Viking helmets, waving giant red flags and singing songs that have become familiar throughout this World Cup.
There was excitement, naturally, but also something else – belief. A quiet confidence that this team could compete with anyone.
For years, Norway have watched major tournaments from afar despite producing world-class talent.
This is only their fourth World Cup appearance – the first since 1998. And the furthest they had gone before this year were two last-16 finishes 50 years apart, in 1938 and 1998.
They had not won a World Cup knockout tie until last Tuesday. Now they have won two in a row – the latest against the five-time winners and most-decorated side in the tournament.
“I said to the boys that I don’t think it’s 50-50, but we have a fair chance if we play at our best and have match-winners, and we had that,” Norway boss Solbakken said.
At full-time, it was Haaland who led the celebrations, banging the drum as he and his team-mates performed the iconic Viking Row with their supporters.
“This is just an insane day,” said Haaland. “It is one of the most insane days in Norwegian history.”
Warnock said: “He is hugely emotional and rightly so. He plays in one of the best teams in world football, in terms of clubs.
“But when you play for Norway they’re not a huge name. Norway are starting to make history for themselves, and he is at the forefront of that.”
Solbakken said: “The whole nation is rowing together, and with that, I mean that we are having a great party here and in Oslo and in all the other big and small cities all the way through Norway.
“The rowing is in a way a symbol of that, and that we are all together. So I think it’s great days, it’s a great summer to be a fan – I think it’s better to be a fan than a coach.”
The rowing has taken over the World Cup. And now Rooney will have to row down the River Mersey after promising he would if Norway made the quarter-finals.
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