Erling Haaland given brutal rating and slammed by ex-Norway boss after shock blank against European minnows

09/07/2024 12:53 PM

Erling Haaland might have the Premier League on strings right now but on the international stage he’s not having the best of luck.

And a brutal response to his performance in Norway‘s 0-0 draw with Kazakhstan might be a wake up call.

Haaland has been a colossus this season, scoring back-to-back hat-tricks against Ipswich and West Ham after a solitary strike against Chelsea.

However, when it came to teaming up with Arsenal star Martin Odegaard and the rest of his compatriots, the 23-year-old turned goal-shy.

After 23 minutes of the UEFA Nations League clash he lofted a back-post header onto the roof of the net.

And four minutes later he failed to get more than a flick on Felix Horn Myhre’s cross.

Haaland missed with another weak header 11 minutes before half time.

But worst of all, after 53 minutes, the two-time Premier League Golden Boot winner hit the post from two yards out.

Another moment of magic from Antonio Nusa found Haaland at the back post but he hammered the ball straight onto the post with the goalkeeper beaten.

Speaking on TV2 in Norway, former Norway boss Egil Olsen said: “We have two world-class players in the team. Today Erling Braut Haaland was unfortunately far below par.

“It's one of the worst things I've seen from Haaland. Martin Odegaard flashes at times, but I have also seen him better.

“One point here is too bad. There are no other teams in this group that will concede points to Kazakhstan."

Former Premier League striker Jan Aage Fjortoft was also disappointed by the outcome.

Like many, he’s puzzled several Norwegian stars can’t do it for the national team.

He posted on X, formerly known as Twitter: “0-0 in Kazakhstan! Not good at all. Very disappointing performance again by Norway. Still a mystery how so many good players can't be turned into a good [team].”

Haaland faced criticism from the public too as TV2 revealed Haaland was given a 2/10 rating for his performance against Kazakhstan by his nation’s fans.

Luckily for Norway, their UEFA Nations League rivals Austria and Slovenia drew 1-1 with each other, throwing them a lifeline.

It’s the Austrians who Haaland will be up against next as he hopes to right the wrongs of the game against Kazakhstan.

His nation are hoping to perform well and land themselves a place at the 2026 World Cup, with qualification starting next March.

If they do make it to the tournament, being held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, it will be their first international tournament since 1998.

Meanwhile, when he returns to England his first Premier League game back will see him face Brentford on Saturday, September 14.