Erling Haaland had a remarkable start to his career at Manchester City, achieving a treble in his first season. However, he fell short in the Ballon d’Or competition, finishing as the runner-up to Lionel Messi. Unfortunately, his success did not extend to the national team, and he has come to terms with the fact that he will not be playing in Euro 2024.
The news of Haaland’s absence from the tournament will undoubtedly disappoint Norway’s national team supporters. Let’s delve into what the City forward had to say about missing out on the opportunity to play in Germany.
Many soccer fans have faith in Erling Haaland’s ability to succeed wherever he goes. There have been reports linking his accomplishments at Manchester City to a potential move to Real Madrid. However, his progress with the national team has not been as fruitful. Despite having the likes of Haaland and Martin Odegaard, the Arsenal captain, Norway failed to qualify for the Euros 2024. This means that the 23-year-old will not have the chance to showcase his skills on the grand stage. During a podcast with the Sky Blues, he expressed his disappointment, stating, “I would have loved to play there this summer, but it’s not happening.”
Furthermore, Haaland mentioned that he intends to watch the games and support his club teammates from the sidelines. He also emphasized his commitment to improving the national team’s quality in the future. Haaland scored six goals in five games for the team. However, his efforts were not enough to secure qualification, with Scotland claiming the second spot and Spain finishing at the top of Group A.
The City forward will be hoping to replicate his club’s success with the national team. Nonetheless, a pundit has pointed out that it is not solely Haaland’s responsibility, but rather his teammates need to step up their game.
As Norway failed to qualify for the 2024 Euros, several rival fans began trolling Erling Haaland for his perceived lack of contribution. However, pundit Jan Aage Fjortoft argued that the striker is not the main issue within the squad. He highlighted the exceptional quality in the forward areas but criticized the defense for conceding too many goals.
Fjortoft also noted that Haaland often finds himself isolated against two center-backs when facing top teams like Spain. Pundit Craig Burley suggested that Haaland needs to adapt to this situation.
This highlights the demanding task ahead for Erling Haaland with the national team, both in the present and the future. Can the 22-year-old forward lead Norway to qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup? Share your thoughts in the comments.