Haaland and Norway's Euro 2024 Qualifying Mishaps: A Closer Look at How Things Went Wrong

Norway's hopes of securing automatic qualification for Euro 2024 were dashed by Spain on October 15. Shortly after, their chances of a play-off spot were also extinguished. However, the decisive blow to their campaign came four months earlier on June 17 when they suffered a 2-1 defeat at home to Scotland, from which they struggled to recover.

The timing of this game held significant importance as it occurred just one week after the Champions League final in Istanbul, where Manchester City achieved a historic treble with a 1-0 victory over Inter. The City celebrations were exuberant, and Erling Haaland, who played a pivotal role in their success, was fully involved in the festivities.

Although Haaland had every right to enjoy the triumph, given his contributions to breaking Premier League records and finishing as the top scorer in the Champions League, he is known for his maturity and professionalism. Consequently, he did not go to the extreme lengths of celebrating as Jack Grealish famously did, as the revelry spanned from Turkey to England, with a quick detour to Ibiza in between.

Despite Scotland assistant coach John Carver's lighthearted remark about hoping Erling Haaland was still partying ahead of the crucial Group A clash in Oslo, Norway manager Stale Solbakken had full confidence that his star player would show up for the important qualifier fully focused and unaffected by any post-celebration effects. Solbakken did not have any concerns about Haaland's commitment and professionalism in fulfilling his responsibilities for the national team.

No need for 'an Al Pacino speech'

Norway manager Stale Solbakken, while smiling, acknowledged that he did not know the extent of Erling Haaland's consumption of coke or beer during the celebrations following Manchester City's treble victory. Solbakken emphasized the importance of allowing Haaland to rest and recover from the euphoria of the achievement and the demanding 10 to 11-month season. He highlighted the need for common sense, rest, sleep, and tactical training during this period.

Solbakken respected that Haaland may require a slightly different approach in preparations for the upcoming match, considering the physical and mental toll he had experienced. However, he had confidence in Haaland's ability to participate in tactical training and stay engaged in team meetings, as long as Haaland was honest about his mental and physical state.

It became apparent that two days of exuberant celebrations had not aided Haaland in overcoming the effects of a grueling 53-game season at Manchester City. The strain of the campaign had already started to impact the 23-year-old, as evidenced by his reduced goal-scoring output in the final stages, scoring just once in his last eight appearances across all competitions.

'We played with one less man'

Erling Haaland recently revealed that during Manchester City's patient build-up play, where he often has limited involvement, he enters a trance-like state. He described it as a "zone out" where he is waiting for the chance to make an impact. However, in Norway's match against Scotland, Haaland seemed to play like a zombie.

After a disappointing start to their qualification campaign with a loss to Spain and a draw with Georgia, Norway desperately needed a victory against an in-form Scotland side. Haaland gave them hope by converting a penalty in the 61st minute. However, there was a noticeable lack of sharpness and involvement from the usually deadly striker. As the game progressed, Haaland's fatigue became apparent, and he himself requested to be substituted. With six minutes remaining, Norway manager Stale Solbakken made the decision to replace his star striker.

Solbakken later explained that in the final minutes with Haaland on the field, they effectively played with one less player as he was completely drained. Unfortunately for Norway, Scotland capitalized on this advantage. Lyndon Dykes equalized shortly after Haaland's substitution, and then Kenny McLean scored the match-winner, silencing the Ullevaal Stadion.

'Let your feet do the talking'

The aftermath of the match saw a shift from shock to anger, with Erling Haaland becoming the target of frustration. Instead of stopping to acknowledge the Norway supporters outside the stadium, Haaland quickly made his way to the team bus, refusing to take selfies or sign autographs. This behavior left many fans furious, leading to boos directed at a player they had been cheering for just moments before.

While this reaction may surprise outsiders, Haaland's behavior and attitude, both on and off the field, have raised concerns in the past. His choice to travel to international camps via private jet, although common among the game's top stars, has not been well-received in his native Norway. It is seen as a lack of humility and a disregard for the environment.

Additionally, Haaland has not always been as accessible to his compatriots as he has been to the international press. In March 2022, after Norway manager Stale Solbakken granted Haaland's request to be excused from media duties, the striker explained on Twitter that he was following the advice of a farmer who had advised him to "let your feet do the talking." This lack of engagement with the Norwegian media has drawn attention and raised questions about Haaland's willingness to connect with his compatriots.

'I'm not saying he's disinterested but...'

Erling Haaland has faced criticism for his perceived lack of emotion and passion when playing for the Norwegian national team, particularly after a 3-0 loss to Turkey in March 2021. Former internationals John Arne Riise and Bernt Hulsker suggested that Haaland didn't seem to care as much about playing for Norway as he did for his club.

Riise pointed out that Haaland's emotional displays when things go wrong with Borussia Dortmund are not seen when playing for Norway. Hulsker went further, describing Haaland's performance as a surrender and suggesting that he exudes disinterest.

However, it would be unfair to label Haaland as a problem for Norway. He is undoubtedly a valuable asset to the team. Former Manchester United defender Henning Berg highlighted Haaland's ability to improve Norway significantly, praising his goal-scoring prowess, physicality, and ability to find the net even with limited chances.

The challenge for Norway, as expressed by Martin Odegaard, is to figure out how to utilize Haaland better. Odegaard, who plays a key role as both a provider and the national team captain, acknowledges that the responsibility primarily lies with manager Stale Solbakken to optimize Haaland's contributions to the team.

Help on the way for Haaland?

While Erling Haaland has been prolific in qualifying, scoring six goals, it is worth noting that five of those goals came against Georgia and Cyprus. In the matches that mattered most, Norway struggled to get the ball to Haaland and involve him in the game.

A prime example of this was the crucial match against Spain, where Haaland had only 17 touches, the fewest of any player who started the game. While Manchester City can rely on Haaland to finish off their well-crafted attacks, Norway needs him to be more involved in their overall play.

Spain defender Dani Carvajal even acknowledged the key to their success in Oslo was putting intense pressure on Haaland whenever he received the ball, effectively neutralizing Norway's attacking threat.

Norway manager Stale Solbakken believes that positive strides are being made and that the team's style of play is evolving and improving. He can also point to the emergence of promising young attackers like Antonio Nusa (18) and Oscar Bobb (20), who should provide ample chances for Haaland in the future.

However, the porous nature of Norway's defense is a significant concern. Spain and Scotland have conceded only three goals each in Group A, while Norway has shipped nine. While Leo Ostigard has become more regular at Napoli this season, the lack of consistent European football experience among the Norwegian backline is evident. The fact that 33-year-old Stefan Strandberg of Valerenga remains the best option alongside Ostigard highlights the lack of depth in defense.

'It's a long-term project'

If Stale Solbakken can address and strengthen Norway's vulnerable defense, there is reason to be optimistic about the team's future. Despite their struggles, Norway showed competitiveness against Spain in both of their meetings. Lise Klaveness, the president of the Norwegian Football Federation (NFF), firmly believes that Solbakken is the right person for the job. She acknowledges that qualifying for Euro 2024 was a hope rather than an expectation for a nation with a population of just over five million that hasn't qualified for a major international tournament since 2000.

Klaveness expressed the NFF's full confidence in Solbakken, emphasizing that they extended his contract despite a challenging start to the qualification campaign. She believes that Solbakken is the right person to lead the team forward and that they made the decision with the belief that another coach would not have put them in a better position. Klaveness stands by her opinion and assures that Solbakken still has the board's trust.

While disappointed with the overall qualification campaign, including the decisive loss to Scotland, Klaveness emphasizes the need to move on and look ahead. Norway's dream of qualifying for Euro 2024 officially ended with the confirmation that they would not make the playoffs. However, a victory over Scotland would provide evidence of progress under Solbakken and offer hope for the future, including the possibility of seeing Erling Haaland on the international stage.