Haaland Scores 5 Goals and Norway Crushes: Total Pressure on Italy

Erling Haaland Sets New Record with Historic Goal Fest in Qualifiers

The star striker Erling Haaland demonstrated his lethality by scoring five goals in Norway’s victory over Moldova by a resounding 11-1 this Tuesday. This result not only secures the lead of Group I in the World Cup qualifiers, but also establishes a new milestone in the striker’s career. Haaland, with this impressive performance, raised his personal tally to five goals in a single match, a record in his career with the Norwegian national team. This achievement places him as the European player with the most goals in a World Cup qualifying match since Hans Krankl of Austria scored six goals against Malta in 1977. The Manchester City striker played the match with stitches on his face, the result of an incident with a door when getting off the team bus on Monday. Despite this, Haaland demonstrated his scoring ability by scoring a hat-trick before halftime, between minutes 11 and 43, and adding two more goals in the second half, bringing his impressive record to 48 goals in 45 matches with his national team. This victory represents the biggest win in the European qualifying phase for the World Cup, surpassing the 8-0 of the Netherlands over Malta in June, and approaches the historical record of 12-0 established by West Germany against Cyprus in 1969. Furthermore, it equals the biggest goal difference in an official match for Norway. The victory keeps Norway six points ahead of Italy, which currently occupies second place in the group. Italy achieved a narrow 5-4 victory against Israel on Monday, in a match full of emotion. Italy, led by Gennaro Gattuso, has a pending match and will seek to secure its direct qualification, avoiding the repechage.

Erling Braut Haaland celebrates a goal for Norway in the World Cup qualifiers.Felix Horn Myhre and Martin Ødegaard also contributed to the score, while Thelo Aasgaard scored four additional goals in Norway’s crushing victory. Norway’s final qualifying match against Italy will take place in November. The Italy vs. Israel match was decided at the last gasp, with a goal by Sandro Tonali securing the victory for Gattuso’s team, placing them ahead of Israel in the table on goal difference.

Gattuso, who took over as Italy’s coach in June, called the match “the craziest game I’ve been involved in as a coach”.

Gennaro Gattuso

Gattuso added that the situation was his responsibility and not the players’. He acknowledged the need to improve the team’s style of play and avoid exposing themselves to the rival’s counterattacks. Italy, four-time world champion, has failed to qualify for the last two World Cups.