Erling Haaland might have been lining up for England in tonight's World Cup quarter-final against Norway, but the striker has explained why he chose to represent the Scandinavian nation instead. Born in Leeds while his father played in the Premier League, Haaland was eligible for both countries but made his senior debut for Norway in September 2019.
Haaland's English Roots
Haaland was born in Leeds when his father, Alf-Inge Haaland, was playing for Leeds United. The family remained in England for some time after his birth, eventually moving back to Bryne, Norway, when Haaland was three years old. There, he grew up immersed in Norwegian culture, spending summers in the woods and developing a love for fishing, a popular pastime in Norway.
Choosing Norway
As Haaland progressed through the youth ranks at local club Bryne and later Molde, he was called up to Norway's youth teams. Despite speculation about a potential switch to England, Haaland made his senior debut for Norway in September 2019. Speaking to Goa, he said: "It was natural for me to choose Norway. You never know how it would be if maybe my father played longer in England or whatever. Maybe I would be English, I don't know. But yeah, I'm Norwegian and I'm proud of it."
World Cup Hero
Norwegian fans are grateful for his decision, as Haaland helped Norway qualify for their first World Cup in 28 years and has been instrumental in their historic run to the quarter-finals. After scoring twice in a victory over Brazil, Haaland said: "I have peaked a few times during this tournament, but every time, there is a new peak. If I receive one or two chances, they usually end up in a goal. I don't really know what I do; this is just the way I am."
He added: "Scoring twice against Brazil is something I will treasure forever, but those goals don't belong to me alone. They belong to every teammate who sacrificed everything, every coach who believed in us, every supporter who stood by us through the difficult years, and every child in Norway who now believes that anything is possible. This is a night that will be remembered forever in every Norwegian home. We didn't just beat Brazil, we gave our nation a memory that will live on for generations."
