Manchester City striker Erling Haaland played his first match since the 1-1 draw at Bournemouth last month
Erling Haaland pictured as Norway drew 1-1 with Morocco in their final World Cup warm-up match
Erling Haaland pictured as Norway drew 1-1 with Morocco in their final World Cup warm-up match(Image: Stephen Nadler/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty Images)
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Manchester City striker Erling Haaland was hammered by the Norwegian press on Sunday night following his country's 1-1 draw with Morocco in New Jersey. Haaland scored 38 goals for City this season, including 27 in the Premier League to earn the golden boot.
After scoring late in the 1-1 draw at Bournemouth on May 19, Haaland was rested for the final match of the season at home to Aston Villa. The striker made his return on Sunday as Norway stepped up their preparations for the World Cup. Haaland started and lasted 72 minutes but his performance underwhelmed.
He managed just four touches of the ball, had one shot - which was blocked - and appeared to have a disagreement with one of the team's physios. This led to the 25-year-old being slammed by his country's media following the game.
Dagsbladet awarded Haaland a meagre two out of 10 rating. Explaining this decision, they wrote: "The striker was invisible in the first half. He played himself up after the break, but this was actually a shockingly weak rehearsal." Meanwhile, TV2 handed Haaland a three out of 10, their lowest rating of any Norway player.
Despite the tough night for Haaland, his head coach Stale Solbakken rushed to his defence post-match. He said: "He's a player who feels it today. He needed those minutes. Without being rude to him, he saves himself five, 10, 15 per cent. Those explosions are coming."
The pressure on Haaland and his Norwegian teammates is clear heading into the tournament. This is the first time Norway have qualified for the World Cup since 1998.
Norway also have a perceived 'golden generation' with Haaland joined by Arsenal's Martin Odegaard, former City star Oscar Bobb and RB Leipzig's Antonio Nusa at this summer's tournament. However, they face a tough group, drawn alongside France, Senegal and Iraq in Group I.
Norway take on Iraq in Boston on June 16 knowing a win will put them in a strong position to qualify for the round of 32.