BELGRADE, SERBIA – JUNE 2: Erling Haaland of Norway celebrates victory during the UEFA Nations League League B Group 4 match between Serbia and Norway at Stadion Rajko Mitic on June 2, 2022 in Belgrade, Serbia. (Photo by Srdjan Stevanovic/Getty Images)
Italy had hoped that Norway would either drop a point or close their goal difference in their 2026 World Cup qualifiers, but their hopes were not fulfilled as Erling Haaland scored a hat-trick despite missing two penalties and beat Israel 5-0.
Given that both teams are level on points, the first dividing point will be the overall goal difference, and the Azzurri are highly unlikely to overturn that difference, so the best hope is for Norway to drop points.
This means Italy, coached by Luciano Spalletti, who lost 3-0 to Oslo in June, will almost certainly qualify for next year’s World Cup play-offs.
There was a protest march outside the stadium before kick-off, and similar scenes are expected when Israel play Italy in Udine on Tuesday night.
The game got off to an unusual start, with the referee pointing to the spot due to a foul on Dan Bitton just four minutes into the game.
Haaland went forward and had his penalty saved by Daniel Peretz, but VAR showed the goalkeeper had stepped off his line and had to be retaken.
Once again, Haaland was denied with a one-handed save, frustrating Norway. It was the first time Haaland had missed a spot-kick in an official match.
They finally broke through when Antonio Nusa failed to hit Alexander Soros’ cross at the back post, instead hitting Israel’s Anan Hariri and rebounding.
Orjan Nyland also had to make two consecutive saves from Bitton and Roy Levivo, but moments later Haaland’s delicately angled drive doubled Norway’s lead with a fake pass from Soros.
Less than a minute after the third goal arrived, Nusa took a player and a roll to Haaland was intercepted and Daniel Peretz, who was trying to clear it, kicked the ball to teammate Idan Nakmias, who crashed into the uprights from behind after scoring an own goal.
Haaland had to wait until the hour mark to double his tally with a header from eight yards, but then completed his hat-trick with a header from the narrowest angle of the first stick and a cross from Nusa, both very impressive.
This treble means the Manchester City striker has scored a whopping 51 goals in 46 appearances for Norway.
Norway 5-0 Israel
Kalili OG 18 (N), Haaland 27, 63, 72 (N), Nahumias OG 29 (N)
Penalties saved: Haaland 6 (N)
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