MIAMI.- The forward Erling Haaland assured this Saturday that the historic performance of Norway in it World Cup 2026 allowed him to put his country “on the map”, despite the elimination after losing 2-1 in extra time against England in the quarterfinals.
“We lost against England, but we put up a good fight,” said the ‘Android’, who was neutralized by the English defense in Miamiwhere he closed his participation in his first World Cup with seven goals.
“With some different decisions, it could have been something else, but at this level, it’s the small details that count,” he added in the mixed zone.
Haaland especially highlighted the impact of the Norwegian team’s campaign, which reached the quarterfinals of a tournament for the first time. World Cup.
“Performances are one thing, beating Brazil (in the round of 16) is another, but I think the way we put Norway on the map is perhaps what excites me the most,” explained the forward of the Manchester City.
“And I hope that now we can build something for the Euro Cup and the next World Cups because our generation is incredible,” he added.
The scorer also considered that his team’s journey will mark a before and after.
“I think Norway has changed and it has also changed me,” he insisted.
Support your homeland
The attacker also revealed that he will support England for the remainder of the tournament.
“Of course I want England to succeed. I think when I was young I had an England shirt before one from Norway,” the footballer born in leeds (United Kingdom).
Asked about the performance of Jude Bellinghamauthor of a double in the English victory and his former teammate in the Borussia DortmundHaaland did not spare his praise.
“I’m not surprised that he scored two goals today and that he played the way he did. Sometimes he gets too much criticism because he doesn’t score enough goals or for whatever reason. For me, he is one of the best in the world.”
Your partner in attack, Alexander Sorlothregretted the missed chances: “We had very clear opportunities that we did not take advantage of, it is the difference with respect to Brazil” in the round of 16, declared the forward of the Atlético de Madrid.
