Norway's national team exited the 2026 World Cup in the quarter-finals after losing 2-1 to England following extra time, but striker Erling Haaland emphasized that his first-ever participation in the tournament represents a major turning point in his career, praising what his national team achieved during the competition.

The English team managed to neutralize Haaland's threat during the match, with defenders Marc Guéhi and John Stones delivering an outstanding defensive performance, securing the Three Lions' spot in the semi-finals.

World Cup Changed Me

Haaland confirmed that competing in the World Cup for the first time left a significant impact on his personality, noting that the experience gave him more maturity.

He said: 'Everything that happened feels like a dream. I think participating in the World Cup changed me, and I feel my personality has become more mature.'

He added: 'It's hard to take in everything I've experienced now, but it's great to be part of a tournament I've been watching from afar for years, before experiencing its atmosphere for the first time.'

Proud of What Norway Achieved

The Manchester City striker expressed his pride in what the Norwegian national team achieved in the tournament, affirming that the team managed to earn everyone's respect.

He said: 'I feel very proud of what we achieved, the unity within the team, and the positive atmosphere that accompanied our journey in the tournament.'

Haaland was one of the tournament's standout stars, having scored 7 goals during Norway's journey against Iraq, Senegal, Ivory Coast, and Brazil, before his tally stopped against England.

England Succeeded in Neutralizing the Threat

Unlike previous matches, Haaland faced tight defensive marking against the English team, managing only two shots on target and completing seven out of nine successful passes before leaving the pitch exhausted during the first extra-time half.

The duo of Marc Guéhi and John Stones played a prominent role in limiting the danger of the Manchester City scorer, benefiting from their good knowledge of his playing style.

Does Not Support England for the Title

When asked if he would support the English team for the remainder of the tournament, due to the presence of several of his Manchester City teammates, Haaland clarified that it is not that simple.

He said: 'I have teammates in England, and I grew up there and the first shirt I owned was the England national team shirt, but it's not the only team that includes friends of mine; there are also teammates in France and Spain.'

'We Put Norway on the Map'

Haaland concluded his remarks with an optimistic message about the future of the Norwegian national team, emphasizing that what was achieved at the World Cup should be the start of a new phase.

He said: 'Qualifying for the World Cup has been a goal for me for a long time, and I think that after this tournament we have put Norway on the football map. Now we have to maintain this level.'

He added: 'We proved that we can beat big teams like Brazil, and we forced England to fight until the last moments. We have a great generation, and I think it's time to establish ourselves in major tournaments in the coming years.'