Superstar Haaland's early exit a no-brainer: coach

Erling Haaland (c) was forced to watch the last minutes of Norway's World Cup exit from the bench. Photo: AP PHOTO

Norway coach Stale Solbakken says it was not a hard decision to sub off superstar striker Erling Haaland with his team's fate in the balance during their 2-1 World Cup quarter-final defeat to England.

Haaland was a nonfactor for much of the match - at least in part because of the strain of dealing with hot and humid conditions in South Florida - and he was replaced going into the final 15 minutes of extra time as Norway sought an equaliser.

"It was not a tough decision to take him out," Solbakken said.

"He was finished. Maybe I should have taken him out 10 minutes before. ... He also got a dead leg in the second half, so that combined with the fatigue. He did everything he could."

Highlight moments were few and far between for Erling Haaland. (EPA PHOTO)

Haaland was kept off the scoresheet for the first time in this World Cup; he had scored seven times in his four appearancesbut barely had a chance to add to that total on Saturday.

He acknowledged afterward that his energy was gone as the game wore on in temperatures reaching 38 Celsius.

"This has been an insane journey," Haaland said.

The Manchester City striker was, without question, one of the stars of the tournament — but England silenced him. And his former Borussia Dortmund teammate, Jude Bellingham, wound up stealing the show by scoring both goals.

England's plan — forged in part by his Manchester City teammates and others who have played with and against him at the club level — was clear: Do not let Haaland get the ball. It was largely successful.

Erling Haalandis fouled by England's Elliot Anderson. (AP PHOTO)

Haaland had two shot attempts in the game, one on goal, and was virtually silenced after the first half.

Haaland was already a star within the sport coming into the tournament — but his larger-than-most-in-soccer frame and larger-than-life personality, combined with his long blond hair and unique mannerisms, turned him into a soccer folk hero.

"I think this has changed my life, to be honest," he said.

When the 2030 tournament rolls around, it won't be a surprise if Norway make another deep run — and that's clearly going to be the goal.

"I think we put Norway on the map," Haaland added.

Australian Associated Press