Norwegian goal celebration in World Cup qualifying: Haaland and teammates wreak havoc at Europe’s top
National team manager Ståle Solbakken has, against all odds, created a Norwegian attacking marvel that dominates completely in Europe. After seven games, the national team has hammered in a whopping 33 goals – an insane average of 4.71 goals per game that no one else can match.
Erling Braut Haaland is the global top scorer in the World Cup qualifiers with 12 goals, while Norway’s second best goalscorer Alexander Sørloth is up to 5 goals after the 4 – 1 win over Estonia.
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Norway is in practice ready for the World Cup in Mexico, the USA and Canada next summer.
- We have found an offensive model that works perfectly, and at the same time we have become a safer team. Then we have some goalscorers, especially one, who turns out to be quite effective, Solbakken smiles to the press after the game.
Spain are in a measured second place with 3.75 goals per game, almost a full goal behind the Norwegian goal machinery.
Here are Europe’s deadliest attacks:
- Norway (7 games): 4.71 goals per game
- Spain (4 games): 3.75
- Netherlands (6 games): 3.67
- Belgium (6 games): 3.50
- Croatia (6 games): 3.33
- Turkey (4 games): 3.25
- Austria (6 games): 3.17
- Denmark (4 matches): 3.00
- England (7 games): 2.86
- Italy (7 games): 2.86
At the bottom of the list we find a neighboring country in crisis. Sweden have only managed to score two goals in their four games, which gives a miserable average of 0.50 goals per game – on a par with Slovenia and Belarus far outside the top 40.
The national team manager points to “an enormous loyalty to the style of play and tactics concept” as a key to the success.
The group final against Italy at San Siro on Sunday will be a matter of form for the Norwegian team, who can withstand losing by as much as 0-8 and still secure a direct World Cup ticket.
- I don’t think we’ll concede nine goals, but it’s going to be a tough away game. We have to be mentally and physically sharp to round off in a dignified way,” says Solbakken.
Erling Braut Haaland is the undisputed king of qualification with 14 goals – twice as many as the nearest challenger, Dutch Memphis Depay on seven goals.
Italy, who were humiliated 0-3 at Ullevaal in June, have won every game since, but still need a miracle to make up for Norway’s superior goal difference.
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