Norway striker Erling Haaland said he never dreamed of reaching the FIFA World Cup quarter-finals after a historic 2–1 victory over Brazil secured a place in the last eight for the first time, www.aclsports.com reports.
Haaland scored twice as Norway stunned the five-time world champions in a dramatic Round of 16 clash, taking his tally to seven goals in the tournament.
“It feels difficult to put into words,” Haaland said. “I never dreamed of this. I struggled to believe I could reach this level in terms of achievements in my life, but I’ve shown myself that it’s possible.”
Despite his brace, Haaland insisted the victory was rooted in collective effort rather than individual brilliance, praising the unity within the squad.
“It’s easy to talk about me because of the goals, but this is a full team performance,” he said. “We have worked together for a long time, and everyone contributed tonight.”
Haaland also paid tribute to goalkeeper Ørjan Nyland, who produced a standout performance that included a crucial penalty save which shifted momentum Norway’s way.
“Ørjan was unbelievable,” Haaland said. “I don’t think I deserve a 10 out of 10, maybe an eight or nine. There were so many top performances across the pitch.”
Nyland described the victory as the defining moment of his career, reflecting on the emotional weight of the occasion after years of perseverance.
“It feels absolutely fantastic,” he said. “This is the biggest match of my life. To beat Brazil and reach the quarter-finals is something I will never forget.”
The goalkeeper credited Norway’s preparation behind the scenes, highlighting the role of coaching staff, analysts, and mental training in helping the team stay composed in decisive moments.
“We prepared for everything,” Nyland said. “When you’re able to save a penalty that early in the game, you feel it’s going to be very difficult to beat you. We’ve made history today, and hopefully young players in Norway can now believe this is possible.”
Substitute Andreas Schjelderup also played a decisive role after coming on at half-time, providing the creative spark that led to both of Haaland’s goals.
“I wasn’t expecting to come on at half-time, so it was a shock,” Schjelderup said. “But I stayed ready and just wanted to help the team.”
He added: “It’s an absolutely crazy feeling. To be part of something like this is a dream come true. My parents are here in the stands today as well, I’m just so happy.”
Schjelderup also praised Haaland’s finishing ability in simple terms.
“He’s a monster,” he said. “The best striker in the world. You just need to get the ball near him and he will score.”
Haaland, however, stressed that the result represented something bigger than one match or one player, pointing to Norway’s growing belief as a football nation.
“We are changing as a team and as a country,” he said. “We believe we can compete with anyone.”
Norway now advance to the World Cup quarter-finals carrying momentum and belief after one of the most significant victories in their football history.
