In the Premier League, Erling Haaland has already scored two hat-tricks after three matches, but not everything the Norwegian goal machine touches turns to gold. On Friday, the Manchester City striker missed a golden opportunity in the Nations League match against Kazakhstan.
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Norway's goalless draw in Almaty against Kazakhstan was a frustrating result for the team, with much of the blame falling on star striker Erling Haaland.
Despite dominating possession and creating several key opportunities, the Norwegian team struggled to find the back of the net. Haaland, who has been prolific in the Premier League for Manchester City, was unable to replicate that form for his national team.
One of the most significant moments came after a brilliant cross from Antonio Nusa, Norway's standout player in the match. Haaland found himself in an ideal position to score from close range, but instead, the ball ricocheted off the post, leaving him in disbelief. His miss was compounded by the earlier effort from debutant Felix Myhre, who struck the crossbar. Overall, Norway managed 19 attempts on goal, but only two were on target—highlighting their inefficiency in front of goal.
After the game, Norway's captain, Martin Ødegaard, expressed his disappointment. He acknowledged that the team had done enough to win but failed to capitalize on their opportunities. Ødegaard, a key player for Arsenal, said, "We should have won and did enough for it, but we didn’t score. The most frustrating part is that we did a lot of things right, but we just couldn't put the ball in the net. And that’s how you end up with a result like this."
Despite the team’s struggles, head coach Stale Solbakken remained calm and optimistic. He focused on the positives, pointing out that Norway had been dominant and created enough chances to win the game. Solbakken noted, "When you're that dominant, you need to create more. We had four big chances, but we could have created even more. The match was played in one half, but the margins are so small. If Erling does score, you play the perfect away game." His remarks suggest that while Norway’s performance was not perfect, it was still a strong one, but the small margins made the difference.
However, not everyone shared Solbakken's optimism. Haaland’s performance drew sharp criticism from former Norway coach Egil Olsen, who led the national team to two World Cups in 1994 and 1998. Olsen, who has seen many top-level performances from Norway’s greatest players, was unsparing in his critique. He commented, "We have two world-class players. Unfortunately, Haaland was subpar today. This is one of the worst matches I've seen from Haaland."
The pressure is certainly mounting on Norway’s biggest star to deliver on the international stage, where expectations are high, particularly following his tremendous success in England with Manchester City. Despite his prolific scoring in the Premier League, where Haaland already boasts two hat-tricks after just three games this season, he has struggled to bring the same clinical finishing to the national team. This gap between his club and international form has been a point of concern for fans and critics alike.
Norway’s chances of qualifying for major tournaments hinge on their ability to perform in crucial games like this one against Kazakhstan, especially against lower-ranked teams where they are expected to dominate. The missed opportunities in this match serve as a stark reminder that even teams with world-class talent can falter if they fail to capitalize on their chances. For Norway, and for Haaland in particular, the pressure to find the net will only intensify as the campaign continues.
The frustration of the match in Almaty may linger, but it will be essential for both the team and their star striker to shake it off quickly and focus on future fixtures if they hope to reach their full potential. Haaland's ability to bounce back will be key to Norway's aspirations, and his critics will be watching closely to see how he responds on the international stage.
