Manchester City striker Erling Haaland has shared images of himself enjoying a holiday and engaging in rigorous training just days after Norway's exit from the World Cup. The forward posted a shirtless photo poolside on Monday, captioning it with "just enjoying the sunshine."
Later that day, Haaland shared a video clip of himself sprinting uphill in hot conditions, which he captioned "BUILT DIFFERENT RUN." The 25-year-old's holiday follows Norway's journey in the North American World Cup, which concluded against England in Miami.
Norway's World Cup campaign marked their furthest progression in the tournament, reaching the quarter-finals, a feat that surpassed their previous best of the Round of 16 in 1998. After navigating a challenging group stage, Haaland and his teammates defeated Ivory Coast and Brazil before facing England.
During the match against England, played in temperatures exceeding 35 degrees Celsius (95 degrees Fahrenheit) in Florida, Haaland reportedly struggled to make an impact, recording only 21 touches before being substituted in extra time. His withdrawal came shortly after England scored their second goal. Norwegian coach Stale Solbakken stated in a post-match press conference that the substitution was necessary due to fatigue and a dead leg sustained by Haaland in the second half.
Upon their return to Scandinavia, the Norwegian squad was greeted by thousands of fans in Oslo, who lined the streets to celebrate their historic tournament run. The team and supporters participated in the "Viking Row" celebration, a customary gesture during their World Cup campaign. Crown Prince Haakon was also present, beating a drum during the festivities, which were followed by an open-top bus tour through the city.
Haaland reflected on the World Cup's impact, noting that the tournament helped elevate his personal profile and that of Norway as a footballing nation. He described the experience as surreal and expressed immense pride in the team's performance, the unity felt back home, and the joy experienced by both the team and the nation. He highlighted the victory against Brazil as proof of their capability to challenge top teams and expressed optimism about Norway's future in upcoming World Cups and European Championships, believing this generation can establish the nation as a consistent force.