Haaland rewrites history by carrying Norway into World Cup quarterfinals
Erling Haaland's late brace eliminated Brazil and sent Norway to the World Cup quarterfinals for the first time in history.
Norway achieved a historic upset on Sunday, defeating five-time world champions Brazil 2-0 to reach the World Cup quarterfinals for the first time ever.
Haaland's double seals victory
For much of the match, Haaland was quiet and had few touches. At the second-half hydration break, he spoke with coach Stale Solbakken, who urged him to expend all his energy. The advice paid off: in the 79th minute, Haaland headed in the opener, and before full time he added a second.
With 62 goals in 54 appearances, Haaland is Norway's all-time leading scorer, boasting an incredible rate of 1.15 goals per game. He now has seven goals in the tournament, level with Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi in the race for the Golden Boot.
Haaland praises goalkeeper
Despite his heroics, Haaland named goalkeeper Orjan Nyland as his man of the match. "He's my man of the match, even though I scored the goals. He prevented so many goals that would have probably sent us back home. He's the reason why we're going to be playing the quarterfinal for the first time in our history – much respect to him," Haaland said.
Brazil coach on Haaland's threat
Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti noted that Haaland's danger lies not in strength but in timing. "He doesn't waste energy chasing every ball. He studies defenders, waits, and knows when they lose concentration. Then in one second, he's gone. You can defend perfectly for 89 minutes, but football is decided by moments," Ancelotti said.
Next up: England
In the quarterfinals, Norway will face England, who beat co-host Mexico 3-2. Haaland urged fans to savor the moment: "This is one of the most insane days in Norwegian history. Just enjoy it."
