Erling Haaland fires Norway closer to World Cup as Italy stay in the hunt
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Norway's Erling Haaland celebrates with coach Stale Solbakken after their 5-0 victory over Israel.
PHOTO: EPA
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PARIS – After Norway’s 5-0 victory over visitors Israel in a qualifier on Oct 11 put them on the verge of their first World Cup since 1998, coach Stale Solbakken and hat-trick hero Erling Haaland insisted that the focus remains solely on winning the next match.
With the emphatic result giving table-topping Norway a perfect six victories from six and a positive 26 goal difference in Group I, it would take a major setback to stop them reaching their first World Cup this century.
A home match against Estonia and a clash away to second-placed Italy – who are six points behind Norway with a game in hand – in November are all that remain.
The group winners go directly to the Finals in the United States, Canada and Mexico in 2026, while the runners-up go into the play-offs.
Solbakken did not want to talk about Norway’s World Cup qualifying chances but said “we are getting close” and wanted his players to celebrate the win against Israel.
“I’ve said that I’ll be disappointed if everyone doesn’t go out today,” he added.
For Haaland, the chance of reaching the tournament in North America is not currently weighing heavily on his mind either.
“I don’t think I’ll say too much about that (World Cup chances). I’m just focused on winning the next match. That was my mindset in the last game, and it still is now,” he said.
Before the match in Oslo, hundreds of people attended a pro-Palestinian demonstration, chanting “Free Palestine” to protest against Israel’s “genocide”
Norwegian police dispersed a gathering of pro-Palestinian activists with tear gas and made several arrests.
Inside the Ullevaal Stadium, several dozen Israeli fans waved their country’s flag and a banner reading “Let the Ball Talk!”.
After a meek performance, Israel take on Italy in Udine on Oct 14 knowing they must win to keep alive their fading hopes of qualifying automatically.
Significantly, Haaland became the fastest player in men’s international football to reach 50 goals for his country and now boasts 51 goals for Norway in just 46 games.
His early penalty was saved by Israel goalkeeper Daniel Peretz but the referee ordered the spot kick to be retaken for encroachment inside the area, only for Peretz to parry away Haaland’s second effort.
But Norway forged ahead in the 18th minute through an Anan Khalaili own goal, before Haaland raced clear to score. Norway got their third from another own goal, this time from Idan Nachmias.
Haaland added his second with a powerful header, before nodding in to complete his sixth hat-trick for his country with 18 minutes left.
Italy, attempting to reach their first World Cup Finals since 2014, also moved a step closer thanks to goals from Moise Kean, Mateo Retegui and Pio Esposito in Tallinn as they beat Estonia 3-1.
The Italians move three points ahead of Israel in second place in Group I.
Italy’s meeting with Israel is expected to be a tense affair as well, surrounded by pro-Palestinian protests and only 5,000 tickets have been sold.
Elsewhere, European champions Spain kept their perfect record in qualifying intact by defeating Georgia 2-0, thanks to goals from Yeremy Pino and Mikel Oyarzabal.
Turkey remain three points behind them in Group E, after a thumping 6-1 defeat of Bulgaria in Sofia.
Albania have never qualified for a World Cup but have a chance of being in the Finals, after a 1-0 away win over Serbia thanks to a goal from Rey Manaj.
The Albanians are second in Group K, behind England and four points clear of third-placed Serbia, whose coach Dragan Stojkovic resigned after the loss. It was Serbia’s second straight defeat following the 5-0 humbling by England
