Why Erling Haaland was substituted in Norway World Cup defeat to England

Erling Haaland failed to find the net as Norway were beaten by England in extra time (EPA)

Erling Haaland was controversially substituted as England needed extra time to seal a 2-1 win over Norway in their World Cup quarter-final in Miami.

Andreas Schjelderup put Norway ahead with what appeared to be a miss-hit cross in the 36th minute before Jude Bellingham pulled England level shortly before the half-time break, although Norway felt the goal should have been ruled out after the ball appeared to hit one of Spidercam’s cables in the build up to the goal.

Norway felt aggrieved once again in the second half as Torbjorn Heggem put the ball in the net from a corner, however, the goal was ruled out after VAR caught Haaland pushing Elliot Anderson in the box.

The match went to extra time and Bellingham pounced on a mistake from Norway goalkeeper Orjan Nyland to put England in front in the 93rd minute.

But with his side chasing an equaliser, Norway head coach Stale Solbakkendecided to substitute Haaland during half time of extra time and replace the Manchester City striker with Jorgen Strand Larsen.

Norway were unable to find the goal they needed and England held on to secure a 2-1 win to reach the World Cup semi-final where they will play either Argentina or Switzerland.

Erling Haaland was substituted with Norway needing a goal in extra time (AP Photo)

When asked about the decision to substitute Haaland, who has scored seven goals at the World Cup this summer, Solbakken said: ‘It was not a tough decision to take him out because he was finished, maybe I should have done it 10 minutes before.

‘But he obviously had a tremendous World Cup, we used his energy and power for game after game after game.

‘I think that he also got a dead leg in the second half so that combined with fatigue. But he did everything he could, he was a little bit unlucky in a couple of situations, but scoring seven goals in five games for us. He had a fantastic World Cup.’

Erling Haaland congratulated former Borussia Dortmund teammate Jude Bellingham after England’s 2-1 win over Norway (FIFA via Getty)

Speaking after Norway’s World Cup exit, Haaland admitted he was ‘completely done’ after playing England in 32°C heat in Miami.

‘It’s been the best six weeks I’ve had in maybe my entire life,’ Haaland said.

‘It’s completely surreal. It’s hard to talk about it now, because I’m pretty down, but these 40-plus days have gone by so quickly. It’s a memory for life.

‘I hope people at home are happy with what we have done. We should be proud, but at the same time we should learn from matches like this. Quarter-finals in the World Cup are decided by small details, and we got that against us. England have experience from before, and they managed to tilt it in their favour.

‘It was really special to play today with such high humidity. It was tough. I’m completely done, to be honest.’

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