Erling Haaland: Our generation have put Norway on the nap

Norway's dream came to an end with a 2-1 extra-time defeat in Miami on Saturday, as Jude Bellingham struck twice to send England into the semi-finals. It was the first time in 15 competitive appearances for Norway that Haaland failed to find the net, although the Manchester City striker still finished the tournament with seven goals in five matches.

The 25-year-old played a pivotal role in Norway reaching the quarter-finals of their first World Cup since 1998, including scoring twice in a memorable last-16 victory over five-time champions Brazil.

Reflecting on the campaign, Haaland said Norway had announced themselves on the world stage and hoped the team's success would serve as a platform for sustained progress.

"How we put Norway on the map is maybe one thing that touches me the most," he said.

"Hopefully now we can establish something when it comes to Euros, World Cups and everything because our generation is amazing and also all this gives motivation to young people back in Norway that it's possible to play on the biggest stage with a Norwegian shirt."

Haaland admitted the past six weeks had been difficult to process, saying the tournament had transformed both Norwegian football and his own career.

"These things are surreal. I think this has changed me as a person," he said.

"I think my profile has grown a bit, and it's hard to process everything we've experienced. I feel immense pride when I think about how well we performed, the unity back in Norway and the positivity we've felt throughout the tournament.

"I think this changes Norway, and it changes me. We've shown that it's possible to become one of the biggest football nations in the world. Now it's about maintaining this because we've proved we can compete."

Although disappointed by the defeat, Haaland believes Norway have laid the foundations for future success.

"We proved that it's possible to beat one of the biggest teams in the world, Brazil. We lost to England in the end, but we made them fight for it. We've got more World Cups and Euros ahead of us, and I think it's time for us to really establish ourselves. We've got a fantastic generation."

Haaland also reserved special praise for Bellingham, his former Borussia Dortmund teammate, after the Real Madrid midfielder produced the match-winning performance.

"We had so much fun together and I'm not surprised that he scores two goals today," Haaland said.

"I think he's one of the best in the world. He's a midfielder, but he still scores goals and dribbles past everyone. England are lucky because every team would want a Jude in their side."

Haaland was substituted during extra time after struggling with the intense Miami heat, with Norway coach Stale Solbakken revealing his star striker had emptied the tank during the tournament.

"It was not a tough decision to take him out because he was finished and maybe I should have taken him out before," Solbakken said.

"We used all his energy and power game after game. He also got a dead leg in the second half, so that combined with the fatigue meant he did everything he could. He scored seven goals in five games for us. It was a fantastic World Cup."

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