Haaland scores twice in Norway's World Cup debut win but calls for better play

Norway's World Cup debut was marked by a convincing 4-1 victory over Iraq, but star striker Erling Braut Haaland emphasized the need for a substantial improvement in the team's performance. Haaland, who contributed two goals to the win, acknowledged the emotional weight of a World Cup debut but stressed that the team's play was only "middling."

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It is not easy to debut in the World Cup. There are many emotions and nerves. Winning 4-1 on a middling day at everyone's World Cup debut is big and fantastic, and I am proud of them all. A good start.

"This is the hardest thing you can do. The next games will be much harder than this one. We have to play even better," Haaland told TV 2 Norge, as reported by Reuters. The Manchester City forward was instrumental in Norway's qualification, scoring 16 goals in eight matches, double that of any other European player.

Coach Ståle Solbakken echoed Haaland's sentiments, describing the team's performance as "uneven." He noted that the ball was not moved quickly enough and that Iraq was well-organized defensively. Solbakken believes the team must elevate their game significantly as they prepare to face stronger opponents in Group I, which includes Senegal and France.

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This is the hardest thing you can do. The next games will be much harder than this one. We have to play even better.

This marks Norway's first appearance in the World Cup finals in 28 years. Their dominant qualification campaign, achieving maximum points with a 35-7 goal difference, set high expectations. However, the opening match highlighted that while the team possesses significant attacking talent, cohesion and tactical execution will be crucial for success in the latter stages of the tournament.

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It was an uneven game from our side. We did not play the ball around fast enough, and Iraq was very well organized.