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07/11 20:45 CDT Erling Haaland neutralized by England and subbed off late as
Norway's World Cup run ends
Erling Haaland neutralized by England and subbed off late as Norway's World Cup
run ends
By TIM REYNOLDS
AP Sports Writer
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) --- Erling Haaland's day ended earlier than many
expected. About 15 minutes later, Norway's run in the World Cup ended as well.
The Vikings' biggest star didn't shine Saturday.
Haaland was a nonfactor for much of his team's quarterfinal against England and
--- at least in part because of the strain of dealing with hot and humid
conditions in South Florida --- was taken out with Norway's hopes hanging in
the balance going into the final 15 minutes of extra time.
The final score: England 2, Norway 1. Haaland was kept off the scoresheet for
the first time in this World Cup; he had scored seven times in his four
appearances going into Saturday, but barely had a chance to add to that total
Saturday.
"This has been an insane journey," Haaland said.
Haaland acknowledged afterward that his energy was gone as the game, which was
played with a heat index topping 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 Celsius), wore
along.
"It was not a tough decision to take him out," Norway coach Stle Solbakken
said. "He was finished. Maybe I should have taken him out 10 minutes before.
... He also got a dead leg in the second half, so that combined with the
fatigue. He did everything he could."
The Manchester City striker was, without question, one of the stars of the
tournament --- but England silenced him. And his former Borussia Dortmund
teammate, Jude Bellingham, wound up stealing the show by scoring both goals.
Haaland and Bellingham shared an embrace when the game ended, before the
Norwegian striker made the long, slow walk from the field to the locker room
for the final time in this World Cup.
He was already a star within the sport coming into the tournament --- but his
larger-than-most-in-soccer frame and larger-than-life personality, combined
with his long blond hair and unique mannerisms, turned Haaland into a soccer
folk hero.
"I think this has changed my life, to be honest," Haaland said.
England's plan --- forged in part by his Manchester City teammates and others
who have played with and against him at the club level --- was clear: Do not
let Haaland get the ball. It was largely successful.
Haaland had two shot attempts in the game, one on goal, and was virtually
silenced after the first half. There was a 2-on-1 chance late in the first half
where a pass didn't go his way; if it had, that may have been his best scoring
opportunity.
There wasn't much for him to get excited about the rest of the way. He stayed
on the field for a few minutes after the final whistle, saluting Norway's fans
after the team's best World Cup run ever. When the 2030 tournament rolls
around, it won't be a surprise if Norway makes another deep run --- and that's
clearly going to be the goal.
"I think we put Norway on the map," he said.
___
See more of AP's World Cup coverage here
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