Wayne Rooney was left red-faced after Erling Haaland forced him to eat his words for doubting Norway's run to the World Cup quarter-finals. Rooney had previously joked he would row down the River Mersey if Norway made the last eight.
Norway's Historic Quarter-Final Berth
Norway achieved the feat after beating Brazil 2-1 to set up a meeting with England in the quarter-finals in Miami on Saturday evening (10pm BST). Haaland has been in outstanding form at this tournament, scoring seven goals in just five games, and the Three Lions know they will have to contain him if they want to book a place in the semi-finals.
With the semis in reaching distance of both teams, Rooney suggested he did not see Stale Solbakken's side making it past Brazil. He said: "If Norway get to the quarter-finals, I’ll go in the River Mersey and row down it."
Haaland Responds
Then two goals from Haaland against Brazil saw Norway progress to reach the quarter-finals for the first time in the nation's history. Speaking ahead of the quarter-final, Haaland said: "I'm looking forward to seeing you, Wayney boy. Wayne Rooney said he was going to row if we went to the quarter-finals so Wayne Rooney, I expect you to go out on a rowing trip."
Rooney Backtracks
After being put on the spot, Rooney admitted it was the last time he'd be making that sort of statement: "Yeah, I won't be doing that again," he said, before dragging Micah Richards and Joe Hart into the conversation. "But no, big Meeks [Micah Richards] is going to come along. So me, Meeks and Harty [Joe Hart], we're all taking part, aren't we? So we're just trying to get it put together to do it on the Hudson River [in New York]."
Mayor Suggests Alternative
Rooney's initial bet was sparked by Norway's viral post-match rowing celebration at the World Cup - one player beating a drum while the rest of the squad and fans mime rowing in unison. However, it seems the Mayor of Liverpool has other ideas for Rooney. He said: "How about this instead, we can sort out a rowing boat OR in a couple of months' time, we’ll launch our brand new £26m Mersey Ferry. Fancy swapping oars for the captain’s chair?"
