Just days ago, Erling Haaland and Norway were riding high. Haaland had made history by breaking a 90-year-old record, becoming Norway’s all-time leading scorer with 35 goals after a stunning brace against Slovenia. The Manchester City striker expressed his deep passion for representing his country, despite how he feels he’s sometimes perceived, and his two goals helped Norway secure another important UEFA Nations League victory.
However, the joy quickly turned to disappointment. In their next match, Haaland and Norway were handed a crushing 5-1 defeat by Ralf Rangnick’s Austria. After Alexander Sorloth’s first-half equalizer brought the teams level at halftime, Norway collapsed in the second half, leaving Haaland and his teammates humiliated on the pitch.
The mood from their previous celebrations evaporated, and Haaland wasn’t in the mood for post-match interviews as he exited the stadium. However, shortly afterward, he took to social media to address the defeat, posting a sincere apology on Instagram.
“Sorry everyone, this was far too bad on my part,” he wrote. “In November, we go for six points.”
Despite the heavy loss, Norway still sit atop their UEFA Nations League group, sharing seven points with both Austria and Slovenia, while Kazakhstan lags behind with just one. Next month, Norway will face Slovenia away and Kazakhstan at home in their final group stage games.
Haaland will return to Manchester City this week as the club gears up for a busy stretch of fixtures in the Premier League, Champions League, and Carabao Cup. His return will be crucial as City look to maintain their momentum in all competitions.
