Norway have reached the World Cup quarter-finals for the first time in their history after Erling Haaland scored twice in a memorable 2-1 victory over Brazil.
The 25-year-old striker broke the deadlock 79 minutes into the last-16 tie before adding a second just 11 minutes later to seal a famous win.
Haaland’s second goal, a low drive from outside the box, moved him level with Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi at the top of the Golden Boot standings with seven goals.
Despite having only four touches inside the box across the entire match, the Manchester City forward produced two moments of clinical brilliance to eliminate the five-time world champions.
“You don’t see any other player doing that,” said former Scotland winger Pat Nevin on BBC Radio 5 Live. “There was not a chance there. There wasn’t a half chance, quarter chance. Nothing.”
Former England striker Ian Wright offered a similar assessment, telling ITV: “People constantly talk about how many touches he has. He didn’t have to have a lot of touches.”
Competing at a World Cup for the first time since 1998, Stale Solbakken’s Norway now stand just three wins away from a world title that would represent one of football’s greatest-ever achievements.
England or co-hosts Mexico await in the quarter-finals, but with Haaland in their ranks, Norway supporters have every reason for confidence.
“He has given the whole country belief that they can go really far in this competition,” said Wayne Rooney on BBC One.
Haaland’s numbers for Norway are extraordinary, with the forward having now scored 62 goals in 54 senior internationals at an average of one goal every 71 minutes.
Remarkably, only six of those 62 goals have come from the penalty spot, underlining the genuine threat he poses from open play in every single match.
He has scored in each of his past 14 competitive appearances for Norway, accumulating 27 goals across that run and making him practically unstoppable at international level.
Former England defender Gary Neville told ITV: “Haaland is a massive character, a personality. Sometimes it’s said ‘he’s never done it on the world stage’ and that’s now been removed.”
There had been significant pre-match focus on Haaland’s battle with Brazil and Arsenal centre-back Gabriel, a rivalry that has already been well established in the Premier League.
Gabriel initially appeared to have the upper hand, restricting Haaland to a single touch inside the box before the break, but the game eventually opened up and Brazil were punished.
It was Gabriel who Haaland beat for the header to put Norway ahead, and the Brazilian could only watch helplessly as the second goal flew in from distance.
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” at this tournament, and his own words suggest a player brimming with confidence and self-awareness.
“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.”
Norway had not won a World Cup knockout tie before last Tuesday, yet they have now won back-to-back knockout games including one against the most decorated side in the competition’s history.
“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,” said Solbakken after the final whistle.
At full-time, Haaland led the celebrations by banging a drum as Norway performed their iconic Viking Row with their jubilant supporters packed inside the stadium.
“This is just an insane day,” Haaland said. “It is one of the most insane days in Norwegian history.”
Solbakken was equally emotional, telling reporters: “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.”
Warnock summed up the mood perfectly, noting that Norway are beginning to make history for themselves with Haaland firmly at the forefront of that remarkable journey.
