"Norway were all but assured of a place at next year's showpiece ahead of Sunday's clash, but they had a perfect qualification campaign in their sights. However, they were dealt a blow in the 11th minute. Federico Dimarco volleyed an early chance wide before setting up Francesco Pio Esposito for the opener; the wing-back played in the cross for the striker, who brilliantly turned to poke it past Orjan Nyland."
"The pressure paid off shortly after the hour when Antonio Nusa drilled a dipping shot past Gianluigi Donnarumma to restore parity, though the goalkeeper twice denied him shortly after. At the other end, Nyland was in fine form to keep out Dimarco and Esposito in quick succession before Haaland swept a volley past Manchester City team-mate Donnarumma in the 78th minute."
"It has been an incredible qualifying campaign for Norway, who have scored 37 goals while conceding just five, and Haaland has been at the heart of it all. He scored 16 goals, more than any other European player, and matched Robert Lewandowski's single-campaign record. It was an incredible second half for Norway, who managed just one off-target shot in the first period, as they finished with 13 attempts."
Norway defeated Italy 4-1 at San Siro to secure their place at the 2026 World Cup. Francesco Pio Esposito opened for Italy in the 11th minute after a Federico Dimarco cross. Norway increased pressure in the second half and Antonio Nusa equalised with a dipping shot shortly after the hour. Erling Haaland scored in the 78th minute with a volley and added a second under 90 seconds later, bringing his qualifying tally to 16. Jorgen Strand Larsen added a stoppage-time goal. Norway finished top of Group I with 24 points; Italy settled for a play-off spot.
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