Norway captain Haaland's halftime talk helped break deadlock, says Thorsby
OSLO :Captain Erling Haaland helped Norway celebrate their 4-1 victory over Estonia on Thursday by picking up a huge order of dozens of cheeseburgers for the squad, British media reported.
Haaland's composed halftime talk helped spark the win, midfielder Morten Thorsby said, with the team now on the brink of qualifying for the World Cup for the first time since 1998.
The 25-year-old striker, still dressed in Norway gear, was spotted after the game lugging the cheeseburger order back to the squad.
"It's a strong performance from the captain!" Norway and Fulham midfielder Sander Berge told TV2.
HAALAND URGES CALMNESS AFTER BOOS
Haaland, leading the team in the injured Martin Odegaard's absence, urged them to stay calm after a goalless first half in Oslo, where the frustrated home crowd booed and jeered as the players headed down the tunnel.
Norway hit four goals in 12 minutes as Alexander Sorloth scored twice in quick succession five minutes after play resumed before Haaland added a brace of his own. Robi Saarma netted a consolation for Estonia in the 64th minute.
"Erling was just nice and calm, he gave us the confidence that 'We'll fix this, boys'," Thorsby said. "'We're going to get that goal. We just have to keep going.' That's the kind of confidence we need in these games," Thorsby told Norwegian broadcaster NRK.
Defender Torbjorn Lysaker Heggem said Haaland, who extended his all-time Norway scoring record to 53 goals, also delivered a clear tactical message at the halftime break.
"He said we had to feed him more crosses ... just hit even more into the box. Especially when they are sitting so deep and we have to play a lot around them." Heggem told NRK. "It worked, you could see that after five minutes."
Thorsby said Haaland and Odegaard had "taken very big steps as leaders" and were increasingly embracing more responsibility.
"They have also gained a better understanding of the influence they have on the rest of us," he added. "What they say, what they do and how they act - it spreads."
Norway have all but secured a place at next year's tournament in North America, holding a three-point lead in Group I over second-placed Italy, who they play in Milan in Oslo on Sunday, with a much better goal difference.
