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Manchester City star Erling Haaland has called on supporters to remain realistic even after steering Norway into the knockout rounds of the World Cup. The prolific striker struck twice in a thrilling victory over Senegal that confirmed their qualification, but he was quick to downplay the notion that his team could go all the way to claim the trophy.

Haaland powers Norway into the knockouts

The 25-year-old continued his remarkable scoring run on the international stage, netting a decisive brace in Tuesday’s hard-fought 3-2 win over Senegal. The result lifted the Scandinavian side to six points in Group I, ensuring their passage to the round of 32 with a game to spare. This milestone marks Norway’s first appearance in the World Cup knockout rounds since 1998, a historic achievement for the national team.

Striker urges pragmatic expectations

Despite matching a long-standing record by scoring multiple goals in each of his first two World Cup outings, Haaland dismissed any talk of Norway being among the favourites. The Manchester City forward stated: “I don’t care, we are through. They’ll probably beat us and go on to win the whole tournament.”

When asked whether this tournament could belong to him and Norway given his outstanding form, Haaland was quick to temper any overconfidence. He explained: “Depends on what you mean by that. To qualify for the first time in 28 years and move past the group stage, yes, I would say so. To win the World Cup, absolutely not. I think we should be a bit realistic here, and let’s just be happy—every Norwegian across the world today.”

Viking celebrations embrace the world

The landmark victory ignited jubilant scenes, with fans performing the famous Viking Row celebration. The players joined in with the travelling supporters, marking a deeply emotional and historic moment for the Norwegian squad.

Haaland shared: “It was crazy. Martin [Odegaard] and I talked a bit about it before the match, about whether we should join in if things went the way they did, and they did, so it turned into a pretty special moment for all of Norway.”

He continued: “I think it ranks among the biggest nights of my life. It gave me a feeling similar to the Champions League final. It’s unbelievably big. I’m incredibly proud and just full of joy.”

High-stakes clash with France ahead

Norway will now turn their attention to a high-profile showdown with France on Friday, a fixture that will decide who tops Group I. Didier Deschamps’ men are expected to pose a strong tactical test for the underdogs.

With progression already assured, Norway’s coaching team can approach the encounter with less pressure as they await confirmation of their round-of-32 opponents.