Haaland brace fires Norway past Senegal and into the knockouts

Haaland fires Norway into the knockout stage

Your team is through. Norway beat Senegal 3–2 on Monday and booked a spot in the round of 32 with a game to spare (1) (4) (10) (12).

Erling Haaland scored twice. That is four goals in two World Cup matches for the striker (4) (8) (11) (13). Marcus Holmgren Pedersen got the other (9) (13).

Then came the celebration. The squad dropped to the turf and rowed, the "Viking Row", and it went everywhere (1) (5) (6). Ødegaard led it (13).

Ismaïla Sarr scored both Senegal goals, the second one late enough to matter for the group table (13) (16).

Solbakken: a different Norway against France

Ståle Solbakken is already planning changes for Friday. "Vi må sette et annet lag på banen i den kampen," the manager said about facing France (14).

He also had a moment after the final whistle. Solbakken went to the stands and kissed his wife. "Det är äkta kärlek," he said (3).

France 3–0 Iraq sets up the group decider

France took care of business. Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé led them past Iraq 3–0 (15). They are through as well.

Friday's Norway–France match decides who tops Group I. Senegal's late goal against your team means the math is tighter than it looked (16).

Haaland already said what he thinks

Before the tournament, Haaland was disarmingly blunt about France: "Ils vont probablement nous battre et gagner la Coupe du monde", they will probably beat us and win the World Cup (7).

He might not have expected to face them with the group on the line. Now he gets that chance.

Ajer and Ødegaard impressed

Andreas Schjelderup came on and made an impact. Ødegaard controlled the tempo throughout (13). The tactical analysis from Brazil noted how Norway's reference points in attack, Haaland up top, runners from deep, broke Senegal's shape repeatedly (13). Edouard Mendy in Senegal's goal had a difficult night (13).

Kristoffer Ajer, Julian Ryerson, Sander Berge, Alexander Sørloth, and Ørjan Nyland all featured in what became a tense finish (13). Senegal pushed hard. Your team held.

Fan-reaktioner

The Viking Row has taken over. Norwegian fans and neutrals alike are sharing the celebration clip everywhere, with Ødegaard front and center rowing the boat. Read the reactions on r/worldcup and r/Gunners.