The Vikings are coming: Erling Haaland stands in the way of Brazil in FIFA World Cup

The Vikings are coming. For the first time in 28 years, Norway have made it to the Round of 16 of the FIFA World Cup. And standing at the front of that charge is a player who has made scoring goals feel routine.

Erling Haaland’s late strike against Ivory Coast on Tuesday sealed a dramatic 2-1 win and sent Norway into the round of 16, where one of football’s most fascinating match-ups now awaits, against Brazil.

BRAZIL vs NORWAY IN FIFA WORLD CUP R16

On paper, the match-up does not feel fair. Brazil carry five World Cups, decades of history and the expectation that comes with being one of football’s greatest nations. Norway arrive with something different: belief, momentum, and the world’s most ruthless goalscorer.

Against Ivory Coast, Haaland was forced to be unusually quiet.

Norway struggled to control the game and were pushed for long spells in the second half after Amad Diallo cancelled out Antonio Nusa’s opener. Haaland himself had only a handful of moments. But elite goalscorers rarely need complete performances.

In the 86th minute, Patrick Berg rolled the ball across the six-yard box and Haaland did what he has done all tournament - finish.

His fifth goal of the World Cup. His 60th in just 53 matches for Norway. His third straight World Cup game with a goal. The numbers continue to become harder to explain.

Yet after the final whistle, Haaland’s thoughts were not on his personal records.

“It’s insane,” Haaland said. “Twenty-eight years since the last time," he added.

“It’s huge, it’s crazy. It’s great to see that it means so much to the whole of Norway. I think this will change Norway forever. I feel a kind of unity. It’s touching to see.”

But now come Brazil.

“Playing against Brazil in the round of 16 is completely insane,” Haaland said.

“We just have to be happy and say that this is a journey.”

'HAALAND IS GREATEST GOALSCORER'

For Norway coach Stale Solbakken, the reason his side can keep dreaming is straightforward.

“I think he’s the greatest goalscorer in the world,” Solbakken said.

“You know that today, he wasn't that much involved but he scored the winning goal again.”

Solbakken also pointed to something that often gets overlooked.

“He is really under-rated in terms of keeping the ball up. He didn’t lose one ball today.”

Brazil will still start favourites. But knockout football has a way of shrinking margins. And Norway now have a player who seems to need only one moment. The Vikings are coming. Brazil are next.

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