Euro 2024 will feature many world-class players, but it will also see the absence of some outstanding names. Among the most notable omissions is Erling Haaland, the striker who has twice won the Premier League Golden Boot with Manchester City. Unfortunately, Haaland will be a spectator at Europe’s biggest football tournament. Why Isn’t Erling Haaland in Euro 2024?
So far, the star born in 2000 has yet to participate in any major international tournaments. This streak could continue unless Haaland’s national team significantly improves its performance.
Which National Team Does Erling Haaland Play For?
Erling Haaland was born on July 21, 2000, in Leeds, England, where his father, Alf-Inge Haaland, was playing for Leeds United in the Premier League. When Haaland was three years old, his family moved back to their hometown of Byrne, Norway.
Theoretically, Haaland could have obtained British citizenship and represented England. However, he chose to play for the Norwegian national team.
As of June 2024, Norway ranks 43rd in FIFA’s world rankings. The Scandinavian nation has a modest record in major tournaments, having only qualified for the FIFA World Cup three times, in 1938, 1994, and 1998, with their best result being a Round of 16 finish in 1998.
In the European Championship, Norway has qualified only once, in 2000, where they were eliminated in the group stage.
Why Isn’t Erling Haaland in Euro 2024?
As previously mentioned, Haaland will not feature in Euro 2024 because Norway failed to qualify for the tournament.
Haaland made significant efforts to help Norway secure a spot in their first Euro tournament in 24 years. However, those hopes were dashed when Norway suffered a decisive defeat to Spain in October 2023. This loss ended their chances of direct qualification, and they also failed to secure a place in the playoffs for a last-ditch attempt to reach the finals.
During the qualifying campaign, Haaland missed three of Norway’s eight matches due to injury. His absence was a major blow to the team and one of the key reasons for Norway’s unsuccessful bid to qualify for Europe’s most prestigious football tournament.
Erling Haaland’s Stats for the Norwegian National Team
Erling Haaland has quickly established himself as one of the best strikers in the world. His performances for the Norwegian national team are equally impressive.
Haaland scored his first goal for Norway on September 4, 2020, against Austria. Since then, he has recorded three hat-tricks for his country, against Romania, Gibraltar, and Kosovo.
It has taken Haaland just 33 matches to net 31 international goals. With this pace, it seems inevitable that he will surpass Jørgen Juve’s record (33 goals in 45 matches) to become Norway’s all-time leading scorer.
Competition | Matches Played | Goals Scored |
World Cup Qualifiers | 6 | 5 |
Euro Qualifiers | 8 | 6 |
Nations League | 8 | 10 |
Friendlies | 8 | 7 |
Total | 32 | 30 |
Isn’t Erling Haaland in Euro 2024 But He Still Follows Euro 2024
Although Haaland won’t be playing in Euro 2024, he has expressed his intention to watch the tournament. He aims to support his national team and hopes they achieve notable results. For Haaland, this is also an opportunity to learn and gain valuable experience from Europe’s top players.
Additionally, Haaland may use this time to rest and prepare for the new season with Manchester City. After a demanding campaign, a well-deserved break will allow him to recover and regain full fitness.
Conclusion
These are the main reasons Erling Haaland will not feature in Euro 2024 with Norway, as summarized by SuperPH. This is a significant loss for the Norwegian team and a disappointment for his fans. Nevertheless, we can look forward to seeing Haaland seize future opportunities to showcase his talent on the global stage. Are you looking for a reputable and top-quality casino for betting? Try our partners: JILIACE.