Erling Haaland, the Manchester City striker, is on holiday following Norway's exit from the World Cup. Haaland shared a poolside photo and later a video clip of himself sprinting up a hill, captioning it "BUILT DIFFERENT RUN."
The trip follows Norway's journey in the North American World Cup, which concluded against England in Miami. Haaland scored twice in Norway's Round of 16 victory against Brazil, a historic win for the team. However, during the match against England, he struggled in the high temperatures and was substituted in extra time.
Norway's coach, Stale Solbakken, stated after the match that Haaland was experiencing fatigue and had sustained a dead leg in the second half, making his substitution a necessary decision.
Norway reached the quarter-finals, their best performance in a World Cup, having previously last qualified for the tournament in 1998. The team received a large public welcome upon their return to Scandinavia, with thousands of fans lining the streets of Oslo. The players and fans participated in their signature "Viking Row" celebration, followed by an open-top bus tour.
Haaland reflected on the tournament, noting its impact on his personal profile and Norway's standing as a footballing nation. He expressed pride in the team's performance and the unity felt in Norway. He also stated that the team proved its capability by defeating Brazil and making England fight for their victory, looking forward to future tournaments where Norway can further establish themselves.