Haaland, who had terrorised opposition defences with seven goals in four consecutive matches against Iraq, Senegal, Cote d\u2019Ivoire and Brazil, was kept quiet by England as Norway\u2019s best-ever World Cup campaign ended in Miami on Saturday.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cThese things are surreal; I think this has changed me as a person, I think my profile has grown a bit, let\u2019s put it that way. It\u2019s hard to even process it all right now when I look back at the games, but it\u2019s incredibly special to be part of an event like this, something I used to watch from the sidelines, and now I\u2019m living it first-hand,\u201d Haaland said after the match.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cI feel immense pride, and I\u2019m genuinely moved when I think about how well we performed, the sense of unity back in Norway, and the positivity and joy we\u2019ve felt both there and here,\u201d he added.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Norway initially led against England but ultimately lost 2-1 after extra time, with Jude Bellingham scoring both goals to turn the game around and send the Three Lions to the semi-finals. England were the first team in the tournament to effectively neutralise Haaland, who had only two shots on target and nine passes attempted before being substituted at the end of the first extra-time period.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Despite the disappointment of the quarter-final exit, Haaland believes Norway\u2019s performances at the tournament, including their historic victory over five-time champions Brazil in the Round of 16, have shifted perceptions of the national team.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cThis has been my goal for a long time, and I think after this tournament, we\u2019ve put Norway on the map, so to speak. Now it\u2019s about maintaining those standards. I\u2019m incredibly proud. We proved that it\u2019s possible to beat one of the biggest teams in the world, Brazil. We lost to England in the end, but we made them fight for it. Perhaps it could have gone differently,\u201d he said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve got more World Cups and Euros ahead of us; I think it\u2019s time for us to really establish ourselves. We\u2019ve got a fantastic generation,\u201d he added.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cThis has been my goal for a long time, and I think after this tournament, we\u2019ve put Norway on the map, so to speak. Now it\u2019s about maintaining those standards. I\u2019m incredibly proud. We proved that it\u2019s possible to beat one of the biggest teams in the world, Brazil. We lost to England in the end, but we made them fight for it. Perhaps it could have gone differently,\u201d he said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cI\u2019ve got my City teammates here, that\u2019s true. I grew up in England, and the first shirt I ever owned was an England one. It\u2019s a special country. But I have teammates from France and Spain too,\u201d he said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n