Erling Haaland has played down Norway’s chances of upsetting Brazil, saying the World Cup last-16 tie carries only a “very small probability” of an upset despite his winner against Ivory Coast.
The Norway striker scored the only goal in a narrow win on Tuesday to send his side into the knockout rounds for the first time in 28 years and set up a meeting with Brazil.
Haaland struck from close range as Norway edged past Ivory Coast in the round of 32, continuing a prolific run for his country on football’s biggest stage.
After the match, he accepted the scale of the challenge ahead.
“The probability is very small,” Haaland said. “Facing Brazil in the round of 16 is what we must deal with now.
“We’ve reached the next round, where we’ll face even better teams. The matches won’t be easy and progressing will be very difficult.
“I don’t know if we will succeed, but we are ready and we will prepare as well as we can.”
Norway’s last appearance in the knockout stage came 28 years ago, and the achievement sparked celebrations among players and supporters.
“This is madness,” Haaland said. “It’s been 28 years since we reached this stage. It means a lot for Norway and for the development of football in the country.
“The togetherness we’ve built can change Norwegian football.”
He added that he would have followed the match regardless of his involvement.
“If I wasn’t playing, I would still try to watch it. If not, I would be in Oslo celebrating with everyone else.”
Haaland has now scored 60 international goals in 53 appearances, becoming the second-fastest player to reach that milestone behind Gerd Müller.
He is also the first player since 1954 to score in his first three World Cup matches and now holds Norway’s record for World Cup goals with five.
The striker has scored in 13 consecutive international appearances, with 25 goals in that run.
Norway’s reward for their progress is a meeting with Brazil, who remain one of the tournament favourites.
The two sides last met at a World Cup in 1998, when Norway came from behind to win 2-1 in Marseille.
