Haaland fires Norway to World Cup spot with rout of Italy

Norway earned their first World Cup appearance since 1998 when Erling Haaland netted a vital double in a 4-1 demolition of Italy on Sunday, clinching a berth at next years tournament across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Haaland grabbed the key goals mere moments apart amid pouring rain at the San Siro, as Norway wrapped up Group I with an impeccable 24 points across their eight qualifiers.

To surrender top spot to Italy for the groups single direct entry to the North American showpiece, Norway would have needed a loss by at least nine goals.

Haalands dad Alf-Inge remained active for the national side during Norways previous World Cup outing 27 years back, an edition claimed by Frances team led by Zinedine Zidane.

The Manchester City forward shapes up as a prime talent to follow in North America, having bagged 16 strikes throughout the qualification process.

This season, the 25 year old boasts an average exceeding one goal per outing for both club and nation, proving his lethal edge by first edging Norway in front and then doubling the advantage in the 78th and 79th minutes.

Italy took an early lead through Pio Esposito in the 11th minute, yet after Antonio Nusa equalised via a fierce effort in the 63rd, Norway appeared the clear victors, with Jorgen Strand Larsens superb solo strike wrapping up the margin in added time.

Italy now face March play-offs, trailing Norway by six points in the group after suffering two stern losses to Stale Solbakkens outfit, departing the San Siro amid jeers from the sparse remaining supporters.

Direct qualification hopes for Italy faltered right from their initial clash with Norway, a 3-0 reversal that prompted the departure of manager Luciano Spalletti.

With Gennaro Gattuso at the helm since, the Azzurri have shown improvement, though they possess no equivalent to Haalands quality, a regrettable gap for a football heritage boasting icons among the sports elite.

Absence from the past pair of World Cups stemmed from crushing play-off setbacks against Sweden and North Macedonia, the latter striking mere months post their 2021 European Championship triumph.