Haaland after World Cup exit against England: "The most awesome six weeks of my life"

Haaland on Bellingham and the impact back home

Speaking about his former teammate, Haaland said: „Er ist einer der besten der Welt. England kann sich glücklich schätzen, denn jeder möchte einen wie ihn in der Mannschaft haben." The Bellingham quote was distributed by the Norwegian news agency NTB.

Haaland also reflected in his remarks on the impact of the tournament in his home country. „Ich denke an die Menschen zu Hause und was ihnen das bedeutet. Das hat Norwegen verändert, und ich glaube, das hat auch mich verändert", the striker said. On the team's performance, he added: „Wir haben Norwegen auf die Fußball-Karte gebracht, und das bewegt mich am meisten."

Bidding farewell to the tournament, Haaland said: „Aber diese mehr als 40 Tage sind so schnell vergangen. Das ist eine Erinnerung fürs Leben."

Debate over cable and FIFA response

In Norway, the quarterfinal also sparked debate off the pitch. TV footage suggested that the ball had touched a cable hanging in the air before Bellingham's equalizer, potentially altering its direction. Norwegian players criticized the incident, and world football governing body FIFA rejected the criticism.

Swedish football journalist Erik Niva, who writes for Aftonbladet and Verdens Gang, placed the match in historical context in a commentary: „Das größte Spiel des norwegischen Fußballs. Die Mondlandung des norwegischen Fußballs, die mit der schmerzhaftesten Niederlage des norwegischen Fußballs endete."

Reception in Oslo: King, government and homecoming

Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre addressed the team via Facebook: „Danke für viele Wochen mit großen Erlebnissen, Spielen auf Weltklasseniveau, brillanten Leistungen und schönen Toren." The tournament, Støre said, would „noch Generationen in Erinnerung bleiben."

King Harald V. invited the Norwegian national team to an audience at the Royal Palace in Oslo, according to the Norwegian Football Federation (NFF), which confirmed this to the newspaper Verdens Gang. The exact date had not been set at editorial deadline, with the meeting expected to take place ahead of a reception at Oslo's City Hall Square.

The team is expected to arrive back in Oslo on Monday morning. This brings an end to a tournament that Haaland and his teammates, despite their elimination, count as a historic success for Norwegian football.