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Erling Haaland and his Norwegian teammates showed off their rowing talent after earning a place in the World Cup round of 32. But those skills are still no better than Haaland’s main sport.
“My specialty is scoring goals,” Haaland said. “I’m very good at scoring goals.”
Haaland scored two goals to increase his World Cup goal total to four, and the Vikings secured progress to the knockout rounds with a 3-2 win over Senegal on Monday night that was more effort than candle.
After the final whistle, Norway’s players and staff gathered in a 10-row formation just inside the penalty area at the north end of New York New Jersey Stadium, in front of their red-clad supporters, Haaland sitting up front while teammate Martin Ødegaard played a bongo. They alternated with fans performing the Viking Row, chanting “Ro!” while imitating the rowers.
“It was fun,” Norway coach Ståle Solbakken said through an interpreter. “We won’t row after the World Cup, but this can be a trick during the tournament.”
Marcus Pederson had put the Vikings ahead in the 43rd minute after replacing an injured teammate, and Haaland continued his incredible scoring streak in the 48th and 58th minutes to build a 3-1 lead.
“He’s very efficient,” Senegal coach Pape Thiaw said through an interpreter.
Haaland honors Henry with corner flag celebration
Haaland ran onto Martin Ødegaard’s pass and fired a left-footed shot past goalkeeper Edouard Mendy’s outstretched left hand, capping an end-to-end counterattack for a 2-0 lead. He then joined Ødegaard and paid tribute to Thierry Henry by doing the typical corner flag celebration of France’s World Cup winner.
For his second goal, Haaland broke through the defense and, 8 meters out, lifted his weaker right foot to volley in a pass from Patrick Berg. Haaland put his hand to his ear to inspire the Norwegian fans.
Haaland has 24 goals in his last 12 international matches (scoring at least once in each match) and 59 goals in 52 international appearances. The 25-year-old forward joined England’s Harry Kane in 2018 as the only players in the last 50 years with two-goal games in their first two World Cup appearances.
He is second in the race for the Golden Boot, one behind the Argentine Lionel Messi and tied with the Frenchman Kylian Mbappé. Haaland almost got another in first-half stoppage time, hitting a post after Mendy lost control of the ball.
“Error missed an open goal. He could have even scored four,” Solbakken said. “He’s the best striker; he doesn’t play for France or Argentina. He scores for Norway.”
Ismaila Sarr scored both goals for the Teranga Lions, in the 53rd minute and in the third minute of added time in the second half.
“If we had played a little worse, we would be in trouble,” Solbakken said.
Senegal is 0-2 in a World Cup for the first time and needs a win over Iraq (0-2) to have any chance of advancing as a team to third place.
“We have everything to play for,” Thaw said.
Haaland jokes about France’s chances: “They will win everything”
In its first World Cup appearance since 1998, Norway (2-0) is assured of qualification in Group I along with France. The Vikings need to beat Les Bleus on Friday for first place and what would appear to be an easier path in the knockout bracket.
But Haaland didn’t seem to care about that blockbuster match against Mbappé and company, ignoring what will be one of the most anticipated matches of the group stage.
“I couldn’t care much about that game now. They’ll probably beat us. They’ll probably win the tournament,” Haaland said after Monday’s game.
But all eyes turn to that game, tonight it was Haaland’s. Although there were storm warnings, a downpour stopped more than three and a half hours before kickoff. The skies opened again after the final whistle, prompting announcements for fans to leave the stadium in search of a protected space. At least fans got to witness another memorable performance from one of the game’s biggest stars.
“Let’s be happy,” Haaland said, “all Norwegians on the planet today.”
