Haaland credits Norway’s World Cup run with putting nation on football map

MIAMI, United States (AFP) — Erling Haaland believes Norway’s showing at the World Cup has fired up a new wave of players, even after England edged them 2-1 after extra time in Saturday’s quarter-final.

In Miami, the striker went without a goal for the first time in 15 competitive appearances for Norway as Jude Bellingham netted twice to send England into the semi-finals.

Across four matches at a major finals, Haaland found the net seven times and helped Norway reach the last eight on their first World Cup appearance in 28 years. That path featured a round-of-16 win over Brazil, with Haaland scoring twice to eliminate the five-time champions.

“How we put Norway on the map is maybe one thing that touches me the most,” Haaland said. “Hopefully now we can establish something when it comes to Euros, World Cups, and everything, because our generation is amazing. And also, all this gives motivation to young people back in Norway that it’s possible to play a big stage in the world with a Norwegian shirt.”

His standing as a worldwide star has climbed sharply in recent weeks, with growing numbers of American supporters drawn to both his character away from football and his finishing. He wants Norway to use what they achieved in the United States as a platform to become a major force in the years ahead.

“It’s kind of difficult to take in this kind of a show or roller coaster that we’ve been in now for the last six weeks,” he said. “I think this changes Norway; I think it changes me. I’ve said it many times: We’re building on something in Norway. . “It’s about maintaining this because, again, we’ve shown that it’s possible to be one of the biggest football nations in the world.”

Haaland and Bellingham were club colleagues for two seasons at Borussia Dortmund and remain close. He said England are fortunate to have the Real Madrid midfielder.

“We had so much fun together, and I’m not surprised that he scores two goals today and performs the way he does,” Haaland said. “I think he’s one of the best in the world. And he’s a midfielder [but] he still scores goals, he still manages to dribble every single player on the field. “It’s just praise for Jude — I think he’s unbelievable. England is lucky, because everybody would want a Jude in the team.”

Although Norway still needed a goal, Haaland was withdrawn at the halfway mark of extra time after struggling in Miami’s intense heat. Coach Stale Solbakken said his sole regret was that he might have removed his star earlier.

“It was not a tough decision to take him out because he was finished — and maybe I should take him out before,” Solbakken said. “We used all his energy and power for game after game. He also got a dead leg in the second half, so that combined with the fatigue, he did everything he could. “He scored seven goals in five games for us. A fantastic World Cup.”