Two goals from Erling Haaland steered Norway into the World Cup quarter-finals for the first time as they dominated Brazil, who were barely allowed a sniff throughout the match in New Jersey. The Manchester City striker took his tournament tally to seven goals, with one reporter describing him as an “absolute monster” of a world-class forward.
Norway’s victory over Carlo Ancelotti’s much-fancied Brazil side came on their return to the tournament after a 28-year absence. They now face England on Saturday, a country with personal significance for Haaland given it is the land of his birth — and a match that could attract support from some Scotland fans who swapped Viking gear for sombreros during England’s previous game against Mexico.
Scotland’s own World Cup experience could hardly have been more different. Just 11 days before Haaland’s brace ended Brazil’s hopes, Steve Clarke’s side were beaten by the same opponents and failed to reach the knockout stages for the first time. Clarke subsequently resigned, with fingers pointed at the players, the Scottish FA and the head coach in the aftermath.
Former England striker Ian Wright called for a “bolder, braver vision” from Scottish football, saying “somebody is letting down Scotland on a massive scale”. He drew comparisons with Norway’s domestic broadcast deal and the ability of their players to perform on the biggest stage. The two nations have almost identical populations, making the contrast all the more stark.
After a decade or so of failing to qualify for major tournaments following Euro 2000, Norway’s football authorities hit the reset button. Investment poured into coaching courses, artificial pitches and a National Team School, alongside shifts in domestic strategy. Between 2016 and 2025 alone, 539 new artificial surfaces were built and another 586 renovated — a transformation that has taken Norway from the doldrums to Times Square Viking rows and, now, a first-ever World Cup quarter-final.
Image credit: BBC Sport / BBC Sport
