Haaland's Double Sinks England in World Cup Quarter-Final
Erling Haaland scored a brilliant brace to lead Norway to a 3-1 victory over England in the World Cup quarter-finals on Sunday, booking their place in the semi-finals for the first time since 1998. The Manchester City striker opened the scoring in the 35th minute with a powerful header from a Martin Ødegaard cross, then doubled the lead just before half-time with a clinical finish after a defensive error by England captain Harry Kane.
England pulled one back through a Jude Bellingham strike in the 58th minute, but Norway restored their two-goal cushion in the 72nd minute when Alexander Sørloth turned in a deflected shot. Norway's defence held firm in the final stages to secure the win.
England's World Cup Dream Ends
The defeat ends England's hopes of a first World Cup title since 1966. Manager Gareth Southgate said: "We are devastated. We gave everything but Norway were clinical. Haaland is a world-class player and he made the difference." England had reached the quarter-finals after topping their group and beating Senegal in the round of 16.
Norway will now face either France or Argentina in the semi-finals. Coach Ståle Solbakken praised his team's performance: "We believed we could win. The players executed the game plan perfectly."
Haaland's Record Continues
Haaland's two goals take his tournament tally to seven, making him the leading scorer at the World Cup. He has now scored 45 goals in 50 international appearances for Norway. The 26-year-old has been in sensational form throughout the competition, scoring in every match.
Norway's victory was witnessed by 60,000 fans at the Lusail Stadium in Qatar. The team will now prepare for their semi-final clash on Wednesday.
