Haaland’s Norway Thump ‘Sorry’ Italy, End 28-Year Wait to Reach First World Cup Since 1998
MILAN, ITALY — In a stunning display of power, pace, and clinical finishing, a formidable Norway side, spearheaded by the relentless Erling Haaland, dismantled Italy with a comprehensive 4-1 victory at a rain-soaked San Siro. The emphatic win on Sunday night not only capped a perfect qualifying campaign but also sealed Norway’s spot at the next World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, ending a painful 28-year absence from football’s biggest stage.
A Second Half Avalanche
The atmosphere was tense in Milan, with both nations knowing the high stakes, but it was Italy who drew first blood. In the 11th minute, young striker Pio Esposito fired the Azzurri ahead, temporarily igniting hope among the 70,000 home fans. However, the lead proved fragile.
Norway emerged from the halftime break with renewed aggression. The crucial equalizer arrived in the 63rd minute when the dynamic Antonio Nusa leveled the score with a powerful, thumping strike, changing the entire complexion of the match. With the score tied, the pressure mounted on the home side, and Norway’s talisman was ready to capitalize.
The decisive moment came in a dizzying sequence late in the second half. Haaland, largely held in check until then, unleashed his ruthless efficiency. He scored the go-ahead goal in the 78th minute, and before Italy could even process the shock, he struck again in the 79th minute, completing a decisive brace in the space of mere seconds. The rapid double blow crushed Italy’s spirit. Jorgen Strand Larsen added a brilliant individual goal in stoppage time, completing the 4-1 rout and sending the Norwegian bench into jubilant celebration.
The Rise of a Goal Machine
Erling Haaland’s performance cemented his status as one of the game’s elite. Already averaging more than a goal a game for his club, the Manchester City star finished the qualifying campaign with an astonishing 16 goals. Coach Stale Solbakken dubbed him a “goal machine,” and the 25-year-old delivered when his country needed him most. His father, Alf-Inge, was still a member of the national squad when Norway last competed in the World Cup finals in 1998, a tournament famous for Zinedine Zidane’s France lifting the trophy. Now, the younger Haaland will be one of the must-watch players in North America, leading the new generation of the Løvene (Lions).
Norway finished Group I with a perfect 24 points from eight qualifying matches, a testament to their dominance throughout the campaign.
Italy’s Deepening Crisis
For Italy, the defeat was nothing short of humiliating, forcing them to confront a terrifying prospect: failure to qualify for the World Cup for the third consecutive time. The loss means Italy finishes six points behind Norway and will now face the precarious play-offs in March.
The defeat was met with a chorus of whistles from the few home fans who remained at the San Siro until the end. Coach Gennaro Gattuso offered a heartfelt apology to the supporters in his post-match interview, acknowledging the seriousness of the second-half collapse.
“It’s worrying, I’d be a liar to say that it doesn’t concern me,” Gattuso admitted. “When you have nights like this, it’s much easier if you can stay together, improve the day to day. What worries me is that we’ll next see each other in three months’ time.”
Italy’s bid for direct qualification was severely compromised from the start, following a heavy 3-0 defeat to Norway in the opening match of the group—a result that ended Luciano Spalletti’s tenure as coach. Despite a slight improvement under Gattuso, the team sorely lacked a player of Haaland’s caliber, highlighting a painful talent gap for a nation with such a rich footballing history. Having already missed the last two World Cups after play-off defeats to Sweden and North Macedonia, the reigning European champions face a daunting and familiar high-pressure path to the finals.
A New Chapter for Norway
As the celebrations continued on the field, Norwegian coach Solbakken remained grounded about his team’s future prospects.
“Let’s see the draw first… I haven’t even thought about it,” Solbakken told reporters. “For me, it [tonight] was to go from 99 percent to 100 percent and now we have done it in a great way. Let’s see what the draw brings before we go into those questions.”
Regardless of the draw, Norway has firmly announced its return to the elite, driven by a golden generation of players. For the first time since the days of Kjetil Rekdal and Tore André Flo, the Gresshoppene (Grasshoppers) will be represented on the global stage, with Erling Haaland leading them into a thrilling new chapter for Norwegian football.
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