Norwegian star Erling Haaland confirmed that the exceptional journey achieved by his country's national team in the 2026 World Cup in North America succeeded in placing Norway "on the world football map", despite the painful elimination his team suffered on Saturday in the quarter-finals at the hands of the England national team with a score of 2-1 after extra time, in an exciting match held at Miami Stadium.
In statements he made in the mixed zone after the match, Haaland, who faced tight defensive marking from the English backline that stopped his scoring tally at 7 goals in the tournament, said: "We lost the match against England, but we certainly presented a strong and honorable match".
Manchester City striker added: "With some different refereeing decisions, things could have been completely different, but at this high level of competition, the small and precise details are what make the decisive difference between winning and losing".
Haaland continued his speech with a tone of clear pride: "A good performance is an important thing, and the historic 2-1 victory over Brazil in the round of 16 is another wonderful thing, but I truly believe that the way we put Norway on the world football map is perhaps what affects me the most and makes me feel proud", in reference to the historic achievement of the Norwegian national team's first-ever reach to the quarter-finals of the World Cup in its entire football history.
The 26-year-old Norwegian star went on to say with an optimistic outlook toward the future: "I now strongly hope that we can build something real and sustainable for the upcoming European Championship and future World Cups, because our current generation is exceptional and possesses enormous potential".
Haaland stressed after this unprecedented historic journey that the achievement had a profound impact, saying: "I strongly believe that this journey changed Norway as a whole and changed me personally as well. It was an unforgettable experience by all measures".
When asked about the team he would support in the remaining stages of the tournament after his country's exit, Haaland replied with a striking smile and frankness: "Of course I strongly want England to achieve success and go far in the tournament. I think I owned the England national team shirt before I owned the Norway national team shirt when I was a little child", in reference to his emotional connection to English football.
