Haaland scores 5: Norway crushes and pressures Italy in Qualifiers

Haaland Sets Record with Five Goals in Norway’s Rout

Erling Haaland demonstrated his lethality by scoring five goals in Norway’s victory over Moldova on Tuesday. This resounding triumph keeps Norway with a perfect record in the World Cup qualifying phase and consolidates its position at the top of Group I with 15 points in five matches. The five goals represent a milestone in Haaland’s career playing for Norway and are the most scored by a Norwegian player since the year 2000.

This result leaves Norway six points ahead of Italy, which is in second place. The Italians achieved a narrow victory against Israel on Monday, with a score of 5-4.

Italy, led by Gennaro Gattuso, has a pending match and seeks to avoid finishing in second place, which would force them to qualify through the repechage. In addition to Haaland’s goals, Felix Horn Myhre and Martin Ødegaard also contributed with scores, while Thelo Aasgaard added four more goals for Norway’s victory. The last qualifying match between Norway and Italy will be played in November. Italy’s Monday encounter was not decided until Sandro Tonali scored the winning goal at the last gasp, securing the victory for Gattuso’s team and surpassing Israel in the table on goal difference.

It was the craziest match I’ve ever been involved in as a coach.

Gennaro Gattuso

Gattuso, who replaced Luciano Spalletti as Italy’s coach in June, acknowledged that the match was “the craziest one I’ve been involved in as a coach.” “But that’s my fault and not the players’,” Gattuso added. “If we want to play a certain way, we need to improve on this. We were crazy to attack systematically. That’s what Israel was waiting for. They hit us on the counterattack every time.” Italy, four-time champion, has missed the last two World Cups.