Norway coach Ståle Solbakken lauded striker Erling Haaland after his two-goal performance propelled Norway to a 3-2 victory against Senegal on Monday. This win marked Norway’s return to the World Cup knockout rounds for the first time in nearly 30 years. Haaland’s brace in the Group I match brought his tournament total to four goals, reinforcing his position as the leading scorer and a strong contender for the Golden Boot award.
Haaland opened the scoring shortly after halftime when captain Martin Ødegaard assisted him for the breakthrough goal in the 48th minute. Later, Haaland calmly finished to extend Norway’s lead to 3-1, restoring their two-goal advantage. Despite his two goals, the striker missed several clear chances before Senegal narrowed the margin late in the game, creating a tense finish.
Reflecting on Haaland’s performance, Solbakken commented with a smile, noting that Haaland missed an open goal and could have scored even more. He described Haaland as the best striker in the world, highlighting that the difference lies in Haaland playing for Norway rather than football giants like France or Argentina. Solbakken emphasized Haaland’s impressive record of scoring two braces on football’s biggest stage.
The victory elevated Norway to six points from two matches, placing them second in Group I behind France on goal difference. Both teams have already secured their spots in the last 32 ahead of their final group game on Friday. Solbakken acknowledged that players from traditional football powerhouses might have an edge in the Golden Boot race, but affirmed Norway’s commitment to supporting Haaland’s scoring run.
“It’s easier to win the Golden Boot when you play for teams like France or Argentina, but we’ll try to give Erling more games and more support in the matches ahead,” Solbakken said. “He’s in outstanding form, and it’s a pleasure to see him perform at this level on the world stage.”
Norway’s advancement from the group phase marks their first World Cup appearance since 1998, sparking celebrations among players and staff who joined fans in the team’s signature “row” chant following the final whistle. With a challenging encounter against France approaching, Solbakken hinted at possible changes to the starting lineup after the physically demanding match against Senegal.
“We haven’t started planning for France yet,” Solbakken explained. “First, we need to recover because this was a very tough game. There will probably be some different players involved in the next match.”
Meanwhile, Haaland maintained a relaxed attitude about the upcoming clash with France, joking, “We’re already through. They’ll probably beat us and then go on to win the whole tournament.”
