BOSTON — In an alternate reality, Erling Haaland could have been representing England against Norway in Miami on Saturday, but the opposite is true.
Born in Leeds during the summer when his father, Alfie, transferred from Leeds United to Manchester City, Haaland holds dual citizenship. Recently, the English FA has been proactive in reaching out to players eligible for their national team, but in Haaland’s case, Norway seized the opportunity first.
“When he made his first-team breakthrough, he was already involved in the Norwegian youth teams,” former England manager Gareth Southgate noted in 2020. “We pursue players early, but we definitely weren’t aware of him when he was in Yorkshire.”
“We continuously monitor these situations, but in this case, Norway secured his commitment early, and players like Haaland are usually very clear about their national allegiance. He feels a loyalty to the country he’s representing now, and we respect that.”
After Alfie Haaland’s career in England concluded in 2003, the family relocated to Norway. Shortly after, young Haaland joined Bryne’s youth program, and by 2015, he was participating with Norway’s Under-15 squad.
In all honesty, England never stood a chance.
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“I lived in England for 3½ to four years,” Haaland said in an interview last season. “Having spent such a long time in Norway, it felt natural for me to choose Norway.”
“Perhaps if my dad had played longer in England, or if circumstances were different, I might have ended up English — I can’t say for sure. But I’m Norwegian, and I take great pride in that.”
While England may have missed out, Norway has certainly gained. Haaland netted 16 goals in UEFA qualifying, aiding Norway in reaching their first World Cup in 28 years. Currently, he has scored seven goals in four games, including one in Norway’s historic first-ever World Cup knockout victory over Ivory Coast and two against Brazil, propelling them to the quarterfinals for the first time ever.
Some argue that regardless of what Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé, or Harry Kane achieve in this World Cup, Haaland could still be deemed the player of the tournament. While the likes of Messi, Mbappé, and Kane are supported by prominent teammates, Haaland’s performances have come while representing a national team that was ranked 31st in the world by FIFA as the tournament commenced—making Norway the lowest-ranked team in the quarterfinals.
Among the four players with six or more goals in the quarterfinals, Haaland has the fewest touches per match, averaging just 25.0 (compared to Kane’s 25.4, Mbappé’s 49.2 prior to Thursday’s France vs. Morocco match, and Messi’s 67.0). However, his striking efficiency is evident in his low touch count per goal, averaging just 14.3. In comparison, Kane (21.2), Mbappé (35.1), and Messi (41.9) register higher touches before scoring.
Moreover, Haaland has exceeded his expected goals (xG) of 4.4 with the seven goals he’s scored, while Kane has an xG of 3.4 for six goals, Messi 5.1 for eight goals, and Mbappé 4.1 for seven goals, as reported by ESPN Global Sports Research.
It’s not just about his performance on the field; Haaland’s presence at the tournament has been remarkable. Google even integrated a special animation into its search results for him. When searching for Haaland, users can see a group of figures performing the Viking Row, moving in sync to a drumbeat at the bottom of the screen.
Haaland’s knack for scoring from nearly any situation is what sets him apart as a dangerous player, as Brazil recently found out.
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Haaland: All the pressure is on England in the quarterfinal
Norway has thrived with Haaland in peak form, yet there were moments last season when it seemed he might be less than prepared for this World Cup. During March, he was absent from Manchester City’s FA Cup clash with Newcastle, as Pep Guardiola opted for him to train solo in Manchester instead.
During the same international break, Norway chose to give the 25-year-old some extra time off, allowing him to appear in only one of two matches against Netherlands and Switzerland. Head coach Stale Solbakken referred to this as “special treatment,” a decision made shortly after Haaland experienced a month-long goal drought across all competitions.
Manchester City has longstanding concerns about Haaland’s recovery time after injuries due to his physique.
After scoring a trademark goal in a hat-trick against Liverpool in April, assistant coach Pep Lijnders remarked that it showcased Haaland regaining his edge, resembling his earlier goal against Brazil: a clever run followed by a powerful header.
In a demanding campaign last season, Haaland participated in 52 club matches, and his ability to arrive at the World Cup performing at a high level is largely a testament to his disciplined self-care.
Haaland began honing his skills at 16 when he signed with Molde, leaving home after his parents helped him settle in for two days. He is meticulous about his nutrition, even selecting his own steak, milk, and honey from a local farm shop near Manchester.
At home, he has an ice bath, sauna, and red light therapy chamber to support his recovery after matches. Each night, he wears glasses designed to block blue light for three hours before bedtime to ensure quality sleep.
His daily routine starts with collagen-infused coffee, a protein-rich breakfast, and a walk. A video from Norway’s World Cup camp revealed his teammates joking about his strict adherence to diet and lifestyle choices.
“They tease me about it,” Haaland retorted. “But when I’m scoring goals, they stay quiet.”
That’s just what Haaland excels at. Over the past three seasons in England, he has tallied 162 goals in 198 matches. For Norway, he’s scored 62 goals in just 54 appearances. In this World Cup, he’s averaging a goal roughly every 14 touches. Although he’s faced criticism for not being involved in play often, his record — 379 goals in 456 senior matches for club and country — is impressive.
“He’s terrifying in the box,” said Manchester United defender Harry Maguire. “He may not be heavily involved in the game, but he makes defenders feel at ease. If you lose focus, he’ll take advantage.”
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Erling Haaland goal vs. Brazil sends Oslo into raptures
Ilkay Gündogan, who played alongside Haaland during City’s treble-winning season in 2022-23, claims Haaland possesses every desirable quality of a striker.
Those close to Haaland indicate that he has matured significantly over the past two years, particularly after becoming a father and being invited by Guardiola last summer to join City’s leadership group alongside Bernardo Silva, Rodri, and Rúben Dias.
“He was the missing puzzle piece for us,” Gündogan reflected on Haaland’s transfer from Borussia Dortmund in 2022. “While we were already a formidable team, his arrival was crucial for our Champions League ambitions.”
“Fusing his physical strength with speed, technical skills, and finishing ability makes him an exceptional solution for our attack. He’s improved since then and may well be the best striker in the world right now. He poses a great challenge for any defense.”
Thus far in this World Cup, no defense has successfully contained him. In the match against Brazil, he faced off against his Premier League rival and Arsenal’s Gabriel Magalhães, coming out victorious. Next, he will confront England and his City teammates Marc Guéhi, John Stones, and Nico O’Reilly. Having trained with Haaland daily, they will understand the challenge ahead.
Though they may wish for him to don the England jersey on Saturday, Haaland wouldn’t have it any other way.