Haaland shoulders Norway’s hope

Can Erling Haaland’s goals take Norway all the way to World Cup glory? Maybe, with a little help from his friends.

The Manchester City forward had one of his quieter days as Stale Solbakken’s team toiled to a 2-1 victory in their round of 32 tie against Ivory Coast in Dallas, but guess what? When they needed the big man to step up and make the difference, Haaland did just that by scoring the winning goal with four minutes left on the clock.

Norway’s reliance on his goals is so stark that Solbakken’s side haven’t won a game without Haaland getting on the scoresheet for almost three years.

The last time they managed that was a 2-0 win against European minnows Faroe Islands in November of 2023, ansd on that occasion, Haaland only entered the game as a second-half substitute.

A lethal goalscorer can make a good team a great one, and Norway are on the verge of that status at this World Cup.

Yes, they are the “Haaland team,” but captain Martin Odegaard has the flair and creativity to make the chances for Haaland to score, while wingers Antonio Nusa and Oscar Bobb are both capable of beating a full-back and delivering a pinpoint cross for their number nine to send into the net.

Nusa also showed in this game that it isn’t just Haaland with magic in his scoring boots.

The RB Leipzig winger’s first-half goal was a stunner- a right-footed curler into the top corner- and his ability out wide will give Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti cause for concern going into next Monday’s (Fiji time) Round of 16 tie between the two sides in New Jersey. -ESPN