HAALAND TAKES IT ONE GAME AT A TIME

Star striker not getting carried away despite Norway being almost through to World Cup

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After Norway's 5-0 victory over visitors Israel in a qualifier on Oct 11 put them on the verge of their first World Cup since 1998, coach Stale Solbakken and hat-trick hero Erling Haaland insisted that the focus remains solely on winning the next match.

With the emphatic result giving table-topping Norway a perfect six victories from six and a positive 26 goal difference in Group I, it would take a major setback to stop them reaching their first World Cup this century.

A home match against Estonia and a clash away to second-placed Italy who are six points behind Norway with a game in hand in November are all that remain.

The group winners go directly to the Finals in the United States, Canada and Mexico in 2026, while the runners-up go into the playoffs.

Solbakken did not want to talk about Norway's World Cup qualifying chances but said “we are getting close” and wanted his players to celebrate the win against Israel.

“I’ve said that I'll be disappointed if everyone doesn’t go out today,” he added.