Norway striker Erling Haaland embraces underdog status at World Cup
Norway striker Erling Haaland insists his relaxed mindset makes his country a dangerous opponent as they prepare for the World Cup knockout stages.
The Manchester City forward caused controversy recently by stating he “didn’t care” about his side’s final group match against France.
With progression to the next round already secured, the 25-year-old suggested the Scandinavian side would “probably lose” to the two-time world champions.
A different kind of pressure
Those closest to the prolific goalscorer insist his comments were not meant to be disrespectful to the tournament or his opponents.
Instead, they reflect a squad playing completely free from the immense expectations placed upon traditional heavyweights like Argentina, Brazil and England.
Norway are competing on the global stage for the first time since the 1998 tournament, meaning their primary objective has already been achieved.
Former international defender Gunnar Halle believes just reaching the competition is a monumental success for the nation.
To qualify was the big thing, we haven’t qualified since 1998 so to qualify again, the nation wanted another World Cup.
Embracing the underdog role
The former Borussia Dortmund star is experiencing a stark contrast to his incredibly demanding club career in the Premier League.
At club level, both he and national team captain Martin Odegaard face relentless pressure to win every single match with City and Arsenal respectively.
This unprecedented freedom has allowed the Norwegian talisman to genuinely enjoy his time in the United States.
That distinct lack of fear could prove decisive when the European outfit face Ivory Coast in their round of 32 clash in Dallas on 30 June.