Erling Haaland has once again shone as Norway beat Brazil 2-1 to reach the quarterfinals of the World Cup.

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – It had to be him, and he had to face Brazil. Erling Haaland rose above the Brazilian defense to head home Andreas Schjelderup and bring Brazil’s first exit since 1990, when they were also eliminated in the round of 16. The last time Norway was in the World Cup, which was in 1998, they also beat Brazil in the group stage, and now, fast forward, and little Norway is pushing the flag around the world, the new Haaland won 2-1.

And best of all, he managed to beat Arsenal defender Gabriel Magalhães to the ball to put his team ahead of the game. But that would not be the last of his woes as Haaland ripped one from outside the box and celebrated with tears in his eyes. It’s Haaland’s first World Cup, and he firmly planted his flag on the floor, joining Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe in the race for the Golden Boot with his seventh goal of the tournament. Describing Haaland’s performance, Schjelderup summed up what everyone at home was thinking, saying simply, “We’re all speechless.”

The pressure required to score points that everyone wants you to achieve is immense, but Haaland has risen to the challenge, taking the national team with him. By qualifying for the World Cup in this tournament, the only way to stop Haaland was him not playing, as the Norwegian failed to score in one game, the final group game between Norway and France, when Norway rotated the group and did not play.

But he also exceeds his expectations in Norway.

“I dreamed of playing in the World Cup with Norway and taking them to the World Cup, but I never expected to win against Brazil, let’s talk about that. So, again, I mean, I thought it was impossible to do some things, but I think I’m wrong,” said Haaland.

The emotion when Haaland took over for his country is clear, and together with team members like Martin Ødegaard, they set new benchmarks for what their country can achieve at the highest, most special and unprecedented level.

“As a footballer, you want to be in the World Cup, and you want to sing,” Haaland said. “But, let’s be honest, scoring seven goals for Norway in the World Cup is the most important thing. So, it’s not real, and I don’t have words. It’s hard to put words to what I’m feeling, what I’m doing, you know? Because, it’s not real, and I need to squeeze myself in the arm sometimes.”

Carlo Ancelotti has had a tough job trying to bring this Brazilian team together, and while Neymar came to the game to the delight of the Brazilian fans, it is a day that feels like the last of the Brazilian star as they try to find a way to enter a new era. There is talent among them that can lead Brazil there, but it takes time to reach the top level, and patience is not something that is easy to have when one is used to winning like the Selecao.

A quiet first half almost saw the Brazilian fans celebrate when Matheus Cunha scored a penalty following a challenge from Kristoffer Ajer, but their hopes were quickly dashed. Bruno Guimarães stepped up to take the penalty that everyone thought would go to Vinicius Junior, and in retrospect, maybe he should have. Guimarães had a perfect record from the penalty spot, but by leaps and bounds, and leaps and bounds, it was no more as Ørjan Nyland went the right way to level the game.

A free agent after the end of his contract with Sevilla, Nyland is wasting no time letting teams know who to call up. “Everyone knows who to call when they need someone, [to play goalkeeper] I think I showed that today,” he said.

The first penalty is one of those times when, as captain, you wish Vini Jr. control, but again, penalties take on a lot of importance in these times, which is why all statistics go out the window when the games go into the shootout, as the pressure will eat you up. Ancelotti also revealed after the game that the Brazilian players were placed by the coaching staff.

It was one of those days that was common in Brazil, fighting the Europeans. The Norwegian media were frustrated with Brazil, but both sides were playing football as they didn’t really know what to do with football. Norway needed to play Alexander Sørloth as a full-back, which led to a struggle while Brazil let the game go to try to get on the counter. It was a style that was not the same as Brazil, and it was also the one that did not work like the Brazil that we remember as taking the game to you and pushing for victory. They needed Norway to make mistakes, and even when the Norwegians did, Nyland was there to make sure they didn’t end up in disaster.

Norway will now face the winner of Mexico and England in Miami on June 11 in the quarterfinals, but it is clear that this is a team that is here to stay, and coach Stale Solbakken has pushed the right buttons. He took Solorth and Antonio Nusa out of the middle for Oscar Bobb, and Andreas Schjelderup, with Schjelderup bringing in two assists. Neymar scored from the spot to end the game, but it was the goal that sent Brazil out in a huff instead of a thump. The two countries have their national teams going in different directions, and it shows.

Having Haaland in the team is contagious, in his personality and the belief that he gives his teammates that when he gets the ball, it will score. Like playing for Manchester City, Haaland didn’t touch the ball much in Norway, but when he did, it went into the goal, and that’s what his teammates expected.

“I think we’re all happy that he’s from Norway and that he’s playing for us,” said Schjelderup after the game. “The things he does every game to be able to score. It doesn’t matter; you can just cross the ball or pass him blindly, and he will score. So we are lucky to have him, and we appreciate him a lot. I hope he will score more goals in the next games.”

Norway has officially announced itself, and is now on top of the house’s finances as their story continues to be written. With the number nine best in the world, it is difficult to say that this is the fastest team of players in the World Cup, but they have won this competition only four times in their history, so being in the quarterfinals is something to be expected. But now that they are here, their opposition will need to be careful because Haaland are on a mission.