Erling Haaland once again proved unstoppable on the international stage, netting a spectacular hat-trick that propelled Norway to a comprehensive 4-0 victory over Israel in their European Championship qualifier.
The Manchester City superstar's goal-scoring masterclass, however, unfolded against a tense political backdrop as thousands of protesters gathered outside Oslo's Ullevaal Stadium to demonstrate against the Israeli national team's participation.
Haaland's Clinical Display
From the opening whistle, Haaland demonstrated why he's considered among the world's elite strikers. The Norwegian sensation opened the scoring in the 23rd minute with a powerful header, before doubling his tally just before halftime with a characteristically ruthless finish.
His third goal arrived early in the second half—a perfectly timed run followed by an unstoppable shot that completed his hat-trick and effectively sealed the match. Alexander Sorloth added a fourth late in the game to complete the rout.
Protests Dominate Atmosphere
Despite the footballing spectacle inside the stadium, the match was overshadowed by significant political demonstrations. Heavy police presence was required to manage large crowds of protesters who had gathered to voice opposition to Israel's involvement in the qualifiers.
The chants and banners from outside the stadium created an unusual atmosphere for what should have been a straightforward football contest, reminding all present that sport rarely exists in a political vacuum.
What This Means for Norway
This commanding victory keeps Norway's qualification hopes firmly alive as they continue their push for a spot in the European Championships. Haaland's return to devastating form will delight Norwegian supporters who have seen their team struggle to convert promising performances into results in recent campaigns.
The Norwegian FA released a statement acknowledging the "complex political context" of the fixture while emphasising their commitment to "football as a unifying force."
For Israel, the match represented another challenging away fixture played under difficult circumstances, with the team having faced similar protests in other European venues.
