The Vikings are coming: Erling Haaland stands in Brazil’s way to the World Cup
The Vikings are coming. For the first time in 28 years, Norway made it to the round of 16 of the FIFA World Cup. And at the helm of this attack is a player who makes scoring goals routine.
Erling Haaland’s late strike against Ivory Coast on Tuesday sealed a dramatic 2-1 win and sent Norway into the last 16, where one of football’s most exciting games now awaits, against Brazil.
BRAZIL vs NORWAY IN FIFA WORLD CUP R16
On paper, the match doesn’t seem fair to me. Brazil has five World Cups under its belt, decades of history and the expectations that come with being one of football’s greatest nations. Norway comes with something different: belief, momentum and the world’s fiercest shooter.
Against Ivory Coast, Haaland was forced to be unusually quiet.
Norway struggled to control the game and were forced to play long in the second half after Amad Diallo canceled out Antonio Nusa’s opener. Haaland himself had only a few moments. But elite shooters rarely need complete performances.
In the 86th minute, Patrick Berg rolled the ball over six yards and Haaland did what he’s been doing all tournament – he finished.
His fifth World Cup goal. His 60th in just 53 games for Norway. His third World Cup game in a row with a goal. The numbers are increasingly difficult to explain.
After the final whistle, however, Haaland wasn’t thinking about his personal bests.
“It’s crazy,” Haaland said. “It’s been twenty-eight years since the last time,” he added.
“It’s huge, it’s crazy. It’s great to see that it means so much to all of Norway. I think it’s going to change Norway forever. I feel a kind of unity. It’s moving to see.”
But now comes Brazil.
“Playing against Brazil in the round of 16 is absolutely crazy,” Haaland said.
“We have to be happy and say this is the way.
‘HAALAND IS THE BIGGEST GOAL SCORE’
For Norway coach Stale Solbakken, the reason why his team can keep dreaming is clear.
“I think he’s the best shooter in the world,” Solbakken said.
“You know he wasn’t as involved today, but he scored the winning goal again.
Solbakken also pointed out something that is often overlooked.
“He’s really underrated when it comes to keeping the ball. He didn’t lose a ball today.”
Brazil will still start as favourites. But knockout football has a way of shrinking the margins. And Norway now have a player who seems to need just one moment. The Vikings are coming. It’s Brazil’s turn.
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Issued by:
Kingshuk Kusari
Published on:
1 Jul 2026 14:41 IST