Erling Haaland says an Italy defender repeatedly grabbed him during Norway’s emphatic World Cup-clinching win on Sunday night – an episode that briefly threatened to overshadow the occasion before the Manchester City striker responded in devastating fashion.
Haaland, who struck twice in quick succession as Norway sealed an unblemished qualifying campaign, revealed afterwards that Gianluca Mancini’s attempts to provoke him turned into the very spark that powered his match-winning display.
Norway’s 4–1 victory over Italy ensured they progressed to their first World Cup since 1998, and the manner of the performance – brutal, efficient and composed – suggested a team arriving on the global stage with conviction.
The flashpoint between Haaland and Mancini erupted shortly after the hour mark.
Italy, clinging to a draw and showing signs of frustration, attempted to disrupt the flow of a Norwegian side that had grown increasingly dominant as the match wore on.
Mancini, known domestically for his abrasive defensive style, appeared determined to distract Norway’s star forward by any means necessary.
Television replays showed the pair jostling repeatedly inside the Italian penalty area. But according to Haaland, the exchanges went well beyond routine physical defending.
The 25-year-old striker explained that the defender continually made contact with him below the waist, an irritation that quickly escalated.
Haaland later told TV2: “At 1-1 he started to touch my ass, and I thought ‘what are you doing?’ Then I got a little fired up and said to him, ‘Thank you so much for the motivation, let’s f**** have it’.”
The confrontation prompted Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma – Haaland’s teammate at Manchester City – to intervene, holding the Norwegian back before tempers settled.
The brief pause, however, only delayed what proved to be the decisive phase of the evening.
With 15 minutes remaining and the match still level, Norway seized complete control. The visitors, who had grown increasingly confident despite Italy’s spells of possession, struck with ruthless efficiency.
Oscar Bobb, another of Haaland’s club colleagues at City, split the Italian defence with a clever through-ball, sending Haaland into space.
Taking a single touch to set himself, he unleashed a ferocious shot into the roof of the net – a finish that instantly quietened the San Siro and signalled a turning point.
Barely a minute later, Haaland doubled his tally. Norway capitalised again on Italy’s disorganisation, and the striker tapped home from close range to put the result beyond any doubt.
The atmosphere in the Milan stadium shifted dramatically, and Italy’s hopes of salvaging anything from the contest evaporated.
The night grew worse for the hosts deep into stoppage time. Wolves forward Jørgen Strand Larsen added a fourth, completing the Norway’s 4–1 victory over Italy, which will rank among Norway’s most memorable away victories of the modern era.
Afterward, Haaland described the scoreline with characteristic bluntness:
“It’s probably the sickest result. The fact that we come here and win 4-1 is absolutely sick, and it shows that we are a bit unpredictable. It’s pretty good for everyone to know.”
For Norway, the win represented far more than a night of individual brilliance.
It capped a flawless qualifying run of eight wins from eight – a level of consistency the national team had rarely approached in the past two decades.
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Haaland’s tally of 16 goals in the qualifying phase equalled Robert Lewandowski’s longstanding European record for a single campaign.
The Norwegian has now scored in 11 consecutive World Cup qualifiers stretching back to 2021, underlining his status as one of the most dominant international forwards of his generation.
Yet despite his extraordinary numbers, this match will be remembered as much for its psychological battle as its statistical significance.
Haaland has never been a player easily thrown off his stride, but the episode with Mancini provided a moment illustrating how opponents attempt to unsettle him and how he often uses such moments as fuel.
With Norway’s 4–1 victory over Italy, they will enter the World Cup not merely as participants but as a side capable of surprise.
Haaland, already one of the world’s most feared forwards, will arrive in the tournament at the height of his powers.
