Haaland Dad, Rashford Brother Share World Cup Emotions
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- Alfie Haaland covered his eyes in the stands as Erling Haaland tapped in a late winner against Ivory Coast to give Norway their first-ever World Cup knockout-stage victory — though Erling jogged off without smiling.
- Antonio Freeman, a 1997 Super Bowl champion with the Green Bay Packers, watched his 21-year-old son Alex Freeman — the youngest player in the U.S. squad — score in a 2-0 group-stage win over Australia.
- Alex Freeman grew up kicking balls against household furniture "in a constant and annoying fashion," his father Antonio told ESPN, before earning a starting spot on the U.S. World Cup roster.
- Dane Rashford, brother of Marcus Rashford, recalled their mother Melanie taking three buses with a young Marcus to Manchester United training, involving rushed meals and late nights before school.
- Dane Rashford told ESPN that watching Marcus represent England at the World Cup is "incredibly emotional," a moment he described as "the culmination of years of sacrifice, resilience and belief."
- Antonio Freeman said the U.S. team's home World Cup success will be "a building block for years to come" as his son Alex Freeman becomes a household name across the country.
Why it matters: Watching sons represent their countries at a World Cup brings years of family sacrifice into focus — Alfie Haaland's reaction after Erling's late winner secured Norway's first-ever knockout-stage win, while Dane Rashford recalled three-bus rides to Manchester United training and Antonio Freeman said Alex's emergence will be "a building block for years to come" for U.S. soccer.
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