Erling Haaland has revealed that he wants England to win the World Cup after Norway were knocked out by the Three Lions in the quarter-finals. The Manchester City striker, who was born in Leeds, scored seven goals in five games for Norway before their exit.
Haaland's World Cup journey ends
Norway's historic run in North America came to an end in Miami on Saturday night, with England advancing to the semi-finals thanks to a Jude Bellingham masterclass. Thomas Tuchel's team will now face Lionel Messi's Argentina on Wednesday for a place in the final, where they will meet either France or Spain.
Haaland, 25, was one of the standout players at the tournament, but his journey is over. He could have represented England, having been born in Leeds, but chose to follow his father Alf-Inge Haaland's path and play for Norway.
Haaland backs England
Following the match, Haaland was asked if he would support the Three Lions for the rest of the tournament, especially with many of his club teammates in the squad. 'Of course, I want England to do well,' Haaland responded with a wry smile. 'I think I got an England jersey before a Norway jersey when I was young. I grew up in England. It's a special country and a nice t-shirt.'
He added: 'I've got my City teammates here, that's true. But I have teammates from France and Spain too.'
Manchester City connections
Manchester City are the most represented club in the England squad, with Marc Guehi, John Stones, Nico O'Reilly, James Trafford, and new £116 million signing Elliot Anderson. Additionally, City's Ballon d'Or winner Rodri captains Spain, while attacking midfielder Rayan Cherki is part of France's squad.
Haaland will return to City, now managed by Enzo Maresca, in just over a month when they face Arsenal in the Community Shield.
Reflecting on Norway's achievement
Despite the defeat, Haaland expressed pride in Norway's performance. 'This has been my goal for a long time, and I think after this tournament, we've put Norway on the map, so to speak. Now it's about maintaining those standards. I'm incredibly proud,' he said. 'We proved that it's possible to beat one of the biggest teams in the world, Brazil. We lost to England in the end, but we made them fight for it. Perhaps it could have gone differently.'
Looking ahead, Haaland said: 'We've got more World Cups and Euros ahead of us; I think it's time for us to really establish ourselves. We've got a fantastic generation.'
