Norway qualify for first World Cup since 1998 as Erling Haaland goals help secure 4-1 win in Italy
Norway have qualified for the World Cup for the first time since 1998 after a convincing 4-1 victory in Italy on Sunday.
Italy have not qualified for either of the two most recent World Cups, and will now go into a play-off. Since winning the tournament in 2006, Italy’s only World Cup victory since came against England at the group stage of the 2014 edition.
Norway had essentially booked their spot at the tournament next summer with a 4-1 win over Estonia on Thursday, maintaining their three-point lead over Italy while possessing a vastly superior goal difference over the Euro 2020 winners, meaning that Italy would have had beat Norway by nine goals to pip them to top spot in the group.
Francesco Pio Esposito gave Gennaro Gattuso’s side an 11th-minute lead, but a stunning second half comeback saw Norway score four unanswered goals to secure a stunning victory in Milan’s San Siro stadium.
Antonio Nusa levelled just after the hour mark before an Erling Haaland double gave Norway control of the game, with Jorgen Strand Larsen adding a fourth in injury time.
Stale Solbakken’s side finish with a goal difference of +32 — largely thanks to their 11-1 demolition of Moldova in September and a 5-0 home win over Israel last month.
Haaland finished the campaign with 16 goals in eight matches, which is double the next highest scorer in European qualifying (Marko Arnautovic, Harry Kane and Memphis Depay all have eight).
Manchester City striker Haaland is now set to compete at a major international tournament for the first time.
The 25-year-old is already his country’s leading goalscorer and in Octoberbecame only the sixth man to reach 50 international goals in fewer than 50 caps.
Haaland’s double in the win over Italy brought his national tally to 55 goals in 48 appearances.
Italy will have to qualify via the play-offs if they want to avoid missing a third consecutive World Cup.
Norway’s young squad among strongest in Europe
Analysis by The Athletic’s Philip Buckingham
A song was released in Norway last week titled “Null Null” (nil-nil) and it was a cheerful ode to the historic failings of the national football team.
There was no shortage of material after 12 consecutive qualification campaigns had been laced with disappointment but the long and painful wait to reach a major tournament is now at its end.
Norway will be at next summer’s World Cup finals after bettering European heavyweights Italy in Group I and this success story owes nothing to luck.
This is a talented young squad now blossoming under head coach Stale Solbakken. Manchester City’s Erling Haaland is the posterboy, plundering goals throughout qualification, while Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard will return from injury to lead Norway next summer.
There is emerging depth, too. Youngsters like Oscar Bobb and Antonio Nusa have turned Norway into one of European football’s strongest squads. Israel coach Ran Ben Shimon, who saw his side thumped last month, suggested only Spain can rival Solbakken’s men across all of Europe.
After all the near misses this will only be Norway’s fourth World Cup and first since 1998 when they were knocked out by Italy in the round of 16. Call this flawless, free-scoring qualification campaign a sweet revenge 28 years in the making.
