Erling Haaland, who became a star at Manchester City and is known as the leader of the Norwegian national team, shared his thoughts ahead of one of the most important matches of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers - the match against Italy. This was reported by Goal.com.
According to Haaland, he feels a huge responsibility not only to the club but also to the national team. In his opinion, the opportunity to open a new page in Norwegian football lies in these upcoming matches.
Bringing Norway to the World Cup - a personal mission
The 25-year-old striker has become the national team's key player for several years. Since being called up to the national team in 2019, he has been working towards one goal - to bring Norway back to the World Cup.
Haaland said:
"I have always felt this responsibility. I have spoken openly about this several times. The Norwegian national team hasn't made it through any qualifying rounds during my playing time. This inspires me even more. I will do everything in my power to achieve the goal."
In his words, there is not only confidence, but also a kind of psychological pressure. Because in Norway, there is almost no other footballer who has taken on such responsibility.
The decisive match with Italy
The situation after the 7th round of qualifying is very interesting. Italy is in second place in Group I with 18 points. Norway, having scored three points more than them, continues to hold the lead.
For this very reason, the upcoming match is of paramount importance for both teams. If Norway performs exceptionally well, they could secure their place in the World Cup much earlier.
Fan expectations and team sentiment
Currently, the Norwegian national team is in a very strong spirit. A spirit of collective unity prevails in the team. The presence of Haaland, Ødegaard, and other key players in form is also a great source of inspiration for the fans.
Italy, on the other hand, is known as a team rich in experience, tactically strong, and always able to prove themselves in big games. Therefore, this match is considered by many as one of the most important and serious clashes of the qualifying stage.
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