cote divoire v norway round of 32 fifa world cup 2026 2
ARLINGTON, TEXAS - JUNE 30: Erling Haaland #9 of Norway looks on next to Antonio Nusa #20 of Norway during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round Of 32 match between Cote D'Ivoire and Norway at Dallas Stadium on June 30, 2026 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images)
Erling Haaland asked to be substituted and limped from the pitch during Norway’s defeat to Portugal on Sunday, but his manager has played down fears of a serious issue.
CARDIFF, WALES - AUGUST 16: Erling Haaland of Manchester City dejected after Kai Havertz of Arsenal (not pictured) scores his team's second goal during the 2026 FA Community Shield match between Arsenal and Manchester City at Principality Stadium on August 16, 2026 in Cardiff, Wales. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)
CARDIFF, WALES - AUGUST 16: Erling Haaland of Manchester City dejected after Kai Havertz of Arsenal (not pictured) scores his team's second goal during the 2026 FA Community Shield match between Arsenal and Manchester City at Principality Stadium on August 16, 2026 in Cardiff, Wales. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)
Manchester City fans haven’t had much to be cheerful about over the international break so far, but an injury to Erling Haaland was one of a few things that could definitely have made things worse.
Haaland has scored seven goals in seven games for City this season, and he kicked off the international break with three goals in two against Denmark and Portugal.
But after a blank against Wales, Haaland asked to be substituted in the 67th minute in Norway’s second Portugal match, and he limped from the field.
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 13: Erling Haaland of Manchester City celebrates scoring his team’s first goal during the Premier League 2026/27 match between Manchester United and Manchester City at Old Trafford on September 13, 2026 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 13: Erling Haaland of Manchester City celebrates scoring his team’s first goal during the Premier League 2026/27 match between Manchester United and Manchester City at Old Trafford on September 13, 2026 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
City supporters will be particularly concerned about Haaland’s fitness because of the games they have coming up, travelling away to Anfield to face Liverpool on Sunday, before hosting Paris Saint-Germain next Wednesday.
But manager Stale Solbakken has played down concerns over Haaland’s fitness, suggesting the striker actually played for longer than they’d planned.
“Erling dug for a long time,” Solbakken said. “I think he took a lot of beatings and was a very good point guard. We were hoping for 60 (minutes), and he managed 65. That’s a lot of positives.”
Norway's coach Staale Solbakken (C) oversees a training session with Norway's men's national football team with Norway's forward Erling Braut Haland (L) and Norway's midfielder Martin Odegaard at the Ullevaal stadium in Oslo on June 14, 2023 before the European Championship qualifiers against Scotland on June 17, 2023. (Photo by Fredrik Varfjell / NTB / AFP) / Norway OUT (Photo by FREDRIK VARFJELL/NTB/AFP via Getty Images)
Norway's coach Staale Solbakken (C) oversees a training session with Norway's men's national football team with Norway's forward Erling Braut Haland (L) and Norway's midfielder Martin Odegaard at the Ullevaal stadium in Oslo on June 14, 2023 before the European Championship qualifiers against Scotland on June 17, 2023. (Photo by Fredrik Varfjell / NTB / AFP) / Norway OUT (Photo by FREDRIK VARFJELL/NTB/AFP via Getty Images)
Norway teammate Patrick Berg also suggested Haaland’s main problem was simply running out of steam, having played every minute of the international break up until his substitution.
“Of course, we know that he is the world’s best goal-scorer, and probably the one who scores goals most often for us,” Berg said. “We would love to have him on the pitch, but if that stops, then it stops our energy.
“He has played all three games before this one, so it’s not that shocking that his strength finally ran out.”
It doesn’t look as though defences are imminently set for a break from City’s 26-year-old striker, but we won’t know for sure until later this week.
Erling Haaland and Bernardo Silva of Manchester City acknowledges the fans following the team's 1-1 draw in the Premier League match between Bournemouth and Manchester City at Vitality Stadium on May 19, 2026 in Bournemouth, England.
Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images
Did Haaland pick up injury with Norway pre-Liverpool clash?Erling Haaland asked to be substituted and limped from the pitch during Norway’s defeat to Portugal on Sunday, but his manager has played down fears of a serious issue.
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