England ends Erling Haaland’s scoring streak, Norway’s World Cup journey concludes

By Rohan Gupta — 12 July 2026 — 3 min read

England halts Haaland’s scoring run

England achieved a notable feat by preventing Erling Haaland from scoring in a competitive international match, a first in 636 days. This occurred during their 2-1 victory over Norway in the World Cup quarterfinal, which extended into extra time at Hard Rock Stadium. The last team to keep Haaland off the scoresheet was Austria, on October 13, 2024.

Between these two dates, Haaland had been a prolific scorer for Norway. Leading up to this World Cup, he had scored seven goals in five matches. His contributions were crucial in Norway’s advancement past Japan and Switzerland. A significant moment in their campaign was his brace against Brazil in the Round of 16, which led to the elimination of the five-time world champions.

England’s defensive strategy proved effective against the Manchester City striker. Goalkeeper Jordan Pickford made a point-blank save against Haaland in the first half, maintaining England’s position when Norway held a 1-0 lead through Andreas Schjelderup’s goal in the 36th minute. The English defensive unit, featuring Marc Guehi and John Stones, closely marked Haaland, limiting his space and preventing him from getting a clear shot at goal throughout the 120 minutes of play.

Norway’s World Cup exit and substitution decision

Norway’s journey in the World Cup came to an end with the 2-1 quarterfinal loss to England. The match saw a significant moment when Haaland was substituted in the second half of extra time. By this point, England was ahead following Jude Bellingham’s goal in the third minute of extra time. A visibly fatigued Haaland was replaced by Jorgen Strand Larsen, a change that signaled the conclusion of Norway’s challenge in the match.

Haaland concluded his 2026 World Cup campaign with seven goals in six matches. This impressive performance included braces against Brazil, Switzerland, and Japan. His scoring prowess was instrumental in Norway reaching their first-ever World Cup quarterfinal, effectively carrying his nation through the tournament.

The decision to substitute Haaland, particularly with 15 minutes remaining in extra time and Norway trailing by a goal, generated discussion. While some wondered if an injury was the cause, the move was not widely favoured on social media. Reports suggest that a pre-corner foul by Haaland had also contributed to Norway missing what could have been their second goal of the match.

Despite the quarterfinal exit, Norway’s overall performance in the tournament was considered a strong run. Haaland’s individual contribution made him one of the most popular players in the competition, and his tournament ended with him on the bench.

Looking ahead in the tournament

With Norway’s elimination, the World Cup is now nearing its final stages, with the tournament almost down to its final four teams. France and Spain are set to compete in one semifinal match. England, having advanced, awaits the winner of the match between Argentina and Switzerland.

The ability of Thomas Tuchel’s England side to silence Haaland for 105 minutes in Miami, after Austria had been the only other team to do so since October 2024, highlights the defensive achievement in the quarterfinal match.

Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Rohan Gupta

Sports Reporter