Rabat – Norway’s World Cup dream ended in Miami as England won 2-1 in extra time. But much of the post-match discussion centered on single substitution.
Ståle Solbakken withdrew Erling Haaland late in extra time while Norway were trailing. Fans were stunned while pundits speculated that the striker had suffered an injury.
The coach set the record straight. “It was not a tough decision because he was finished, and maybe I should’ve taken him out 10 minutes before,” Solbakken said. He added that Haaland had picked up a dead leg in the second half, which compounded his fatigue.
The heat also played a role. The game was played with a heat index exceeding 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Haaland’s replacement, Jørgen Strand Larsen, had himself battled illness in the week leading up to the game just to be fit for the match in Miami.
Solbakken did not hide his admiration for his star. “He did everything that he could. I think he was a bit unlucky in a couple of situations,” the coach said. “But he scored seven goals in five games for us. He had a fantastic World Cup.”
The numbers back the assessment. Haaland scored seven goals during the tournament, including two in the round-of-16 victory over Brazil, as Norway reached their first World Cup since 1998.
Against England, however, he managed only two attempts, one of which was on target, and faded after the first half.
Norwegian`s exit was not solely about the striker’s withdrawal. Andreas Schjelderup put Norway ahead before Jude Bellingham equalized in first-half stoppage time. Haaland was also penalized for a foul before a Norway corner that could have produced a second goal.
A VAR review later ruled out a Torbjørn Heggem strike after Haaland was judged to have pushed Elliot Anderson in the build-up. The contest featured several contested VAR decisions, including a penalty initially awarded to England that was later overturned following proper analysis.
Bellingham ultimately settled the contest, scoring the winner three minutes into extra time to send England into the semifinal.
Solbakken’s account suggests that physical exhaustion, rather than tactics, drove the decision to replace Haaland. Norway’s defeat reflected a collective set of moments – a conceded foul, a disallowed goal, and several contested VAR officiations and rulings – rather than the absence of one player.
