Haaland: Brazil win 'greatest game' in our history...
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- Erling Haaland scored twice in Norway's 2-1 World Cup round-of-16 win over Brazil at MetLife Stadium, moving level with Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé on seven goals in the Golden Boot race.
- Norway secured a quarterfinal in Miami against the winner of Sunday's Mexico-England tie, with coach Ståle Solbakken saying he had "no preference" for either opponent.
- Norway had never won a World Cup knockout game before this tournament — their first World Cup appearance since 1998 — and Haaland called the result "the greatest game in Norwegian history."
- Norway held two-thirds of possession against Carlo Ancelotti's Brazil and created more shots on target, extending their unbeaten record against the five-time world champions to five games.
- Solbakken declared it "the greatest night in Norwegian football history," adding: "I think all of Norway is now rowing," after Haaland led an on-pitch Norwegian rowing celebration with a drum in front of supporters.
- Haaland said the result "will inspire many young people" in Norway, framing the win as a generational moment for a country that had not reached the World Cup's latter stages in a generation.
Why it matters: Norway had never won a World Cup knockout game before this tournament, and their first appearance since 1998 has now extended into the quarterfinals. With Haaland tied for the Golden Boot lead and Norway holding two-thirds of possession against five-time champions Brazil, the result establishes Norway as a genuine threat in the last eight — and whoever emerges from Mexico-England inherits a Norwegian squad riding the biggest result in its history.
