Erling Haaland’s Unfortunate Streak Continues
Norway Fails to Qualify for Euro 2024
Erling Haaland, along with Odegaard, Sorloth, Ostigard, and other Norwegian players, will once again find themselves watching a major tournament from their television screens. Norway’s hopes of qualifying for Euro 2024 have been dashed.
The Nordic team, despite their efforts, had no chance of securing a spot in Germany through Group A, as they were surpassed by both Spain and Norway. They had pinned their hopes on a miraculous comeback in the Nations League playoffs, but it proved to be an insurmountable task. Lady Luck was not on their side.
Israel’s defeat against Romania, with a score of 1-2, sealed Norway’s fate. This loss dealt another blow to Haaland, who has been in exceptional form since his debut in September 2019, scoring an impressive 27 goals in 29 games. He is inching closer to Jorgen Juve’s Norwegian record of 33 goals, but unfortunately, his individual success has not translated into collective triumphs.
Three Missed Opportunities
Erling Haaland, the prolific striker from Manchester City, who holds the Golden Boot and is hailed as the future star of world football alongside Mbappé, Bellingham, and Vinicius, has yet to achieve success in international tournaments. In the journey to Euro 2021, Serbia eliminated Norway in the play-off semi-finals, with Haaland failing to find the back of the net on that fateful night at Ullevaal.
In the run-up to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Haaland’s exceptional performance, scoring five goals in the first three games, seemed to secure Norway’s spot in the tournament. However, injuries prevented him from completing the phase, and the Nordic team finished third in their group, failing to qualify. The Netherlands and Turkey proved to be formidable opponents.
The journey to Euro 2024 in Germany has also been challenging for Norway. Despite Haaland’s six goals in five games, they could only manage a third-place finish, being surpassed by Spain and Scotland. Furthermore, they missed out on a play-off opportunity. It seems that the third time was not the charm for Haaland and his teammates. They will now have to focus on qualifying for the 2026 World Cup, presenting yet another challenge.
One Response
“Haaland’s incredible talent shines on the international stage, but it’s disappointing to see Norway struggle to qualify for major tournaments. With such a rising star, one can only hope they turn their missed opportunities into success in the future.”