Viewers were left stunned by Norway manager Stale Solbakken’s decision to substitute star striker Erling Haaland during extra time of their World Cup quarter-final against England. This unexpected move sparked injury fears for the prolific forward.

Haaland has been pivotal in Norway’s impressive World Cup journey, scoring seven goals—including two in their sublime last-16 victory over Brazil. However, as Norway trailed 2-1 against England, Haaland was bizarrely substituted at half-time of extra time, raising eyebrows across the football community.

The Manchester City frontman is Norway’s most lethal scoring threat, leading to speculation among pundits regarding his fitness. He was replaced by Crystal Palace striker Jorgen Strand Larsen, who had recently battled illness to be fit for the match.

Prominent figures in football shared their thoughts:

• Alan Shearer commented, “It has to be an injury. There is no way you take Haaland off if you are in desperate need of a goal.”
• Former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson suggested, “It must be fatigue for Erling Haaland because we have not seen him go down with an injury.”

Solbakken is expected to provide an update on Haaland's condition following the match. Notably, Haaland did not score against England, marking the first World Cup knockout match in which he failed to find the net. His presence, however, led to Norway having a goal chalked off, as his push in the back of Elliot Anderson resulted in Tor Bjorn Heggem’s second-half strike being ruled out by VAR. The match saw Andreas Schjelderup’s 36th-minute opener canceled out by Jude Bellingham just before the break, leaving the game level until England took the lead through Bellingham three minutes into extra time.