Soccer
How far can Erling Haaland take Norway at the 2026 World Cup?
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At the start of the tournament, many people labelled Norway as their dark horses in this year's World Cup, but after dumping Brazil out of the competition tonight, are Norway much more than that?
When you have Erling Haaland, they might just be.
Another two goals for the striking Viking in New York helped the Norwegians to a 2-1 victory over the five-time champions, putting his side in the last eight for the first time and opening up the possibility that he can lead this team to even greater uncharted territories.
Watch: Famous World Cup Last-Minute Goals
Haaland's house
We've grown a custom to watching Erling Haaland in the Premier League, so much so that it's taken for granted what a scoring phenomenon he is.
Yet, he still had the chance to show what he's all about on the global stage, but the World Cup 2026 gave him the chance.
A first finals for his country since 1998, a new Norway and one led by one of the game's elite goalgetters - and he's lived up to every billing that he was given.
It took the Manchester City man just half an hour to open his account, netting the opener against Iraq in a 4-1 victory where he'd net a brace.
He followed that up with two more goals against Senegal before being rested in the defeat against France.
Haaland was back for the knockouts and, in both games, has proved the difference for the Scandinavians.
In the clash with the Ivory Coast, he hardly got a kick, but popped-up with four minutes to go to score the winner and send his nation through.
Then it was Brazil and a battle with old pal, Gabriel, and it was the Norwegian number nine who came out on top once again.
His two second-half goals killed off the Brazilians and meant he has now as many goals as Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe this summer.
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Where next?
The question is how far can Haaland take this Norway team?
They, of course, are far from a one-man team, with goalie Ørjan Nyland rolling back the years with some top displays, Martin Odegaard pulling the strings in the middle and Antonio Nusa catching the eye, but Haaland is the difference maker.
His goals tonight mean he's scored in the last 14 consecutive internationals. He may not touch the ball as much as some would like - just ten times in the first half against Brazil, stat fans - but when he provides the fatal blow, who cares?
The forward is an ice-cold killer, and this summer has taken out opponents one by one, to put his country in a position it's never been before.
Next up, it could be England, and although no one may be more familiar with his work than City teammates Marc Guehi and John Stones, there's a real feeling that this tournament is fast becoming HIS playground.
And right now, it looks like nobody can stop Haaland from doing what he does arguably better than anyone else in the world.
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