Captain Erling Haaland delivered a masterclass in leadership that propelled Norway to a stunning 4-1 victory over Estonia on Thursday night, edging his nation closer to their first World Cup qualification since 1998.
Half-Time Transformation
After a frustrating first half that saw the Oslo crowd booing their team off the pitch, Haaland took charge during the interval with a calm yet authoritative team talk that completely transformed the match.
Midfielder Morten Thorsby revealed the Manchester City striker's simple but effective message: "Erling was just nice and calm, he gave us the confidence that 'We'll fix this, boys. We are going to get that goal, we just have to keep going.'"
Defender Torbjorn Lysaker Heggem added that Haaland provided specific tactical instructions, telling teammates to "feed him more crosses" and "hit even more into the box" to break down Estonia's deep defensive block.
Second Half Goal Blitz
The impact was immediate and devastating. Just five minutes after the restart, Alexander Sorloth broke the deadlock with the opening goal, quickly adding a second to double Norway's advantage.
Haaland then took centre stage, scoring twice himself to complete a remarkable four-goal burst in just 12 minutes that left Estonia shell-shocked.
The visitors managed a consolation goal through Robi Saarma in the 64th minute, but by then the damage was already done.
Path to World Cup Qualification
This crucial victory leaves Norway in a commanding position in Group I, holding a three-point lead over second-placed Italy with just one match remaining.
The Scandinavians now host the Italians in Oslo on Sunday, knowing that even a defeat would require the Azzurri to overcome an improbable 17-goal deficit to snatch the automatic qualifying spot.
Thorsby praised both Haaland and the injured Martin Odegaard for their growing influence, noting they've "taken very big steps as leaders" and that "what they say, what they do, and how they act - it spreads" throughout the squad.
