BORUSSIA DORTMUND wonderkid Erling Haaland will NOT be featuring at this summer’s European Championships.
He leads the line for Norway, but failed to fire the Nordic nation to this summer’s delayed edition of the tournament.
Sergej Milinkovic-Savic’s extra time winner in a Euro 2020 semi-final play-off for Serbia back in October 2020 means Haaland will be forced to watch this summer’s Championships from home.
The 20-year-old Leeds-born striker has six goals in ten games for his country since making his Norway debut in 2019, but could not help his nation to a first major tournament since the Euro 2000.
Norway could only finish third in their Euro 2020 qualifying group, finishing third in Group F behind Spain and Sweden to advance to a play-off against Serbia.
The 42nd ranked side in the world won four, drew five, and lost one of their ten qualifying games.
Their only loss came against Spain, but costly draws against Sweden and Romania, while only beating Malta and the Faroe Islands mean Norway will not be present at this year’s delayed Euros.
Why didn’t Norway qualify?
Euro 2020 Qualifying Group F
- Spain 2-1 Norway
- Norway 3-3 Sweden
- Norway 2-2 Romania
- Faroe Islands 0-2 Norway
- Norway 2-0 Malta
- Sweden 1-1 Norway
- Norway 1-1 Spain
- Romania 1-1 Norway
- Norway 4-0 Faroe Islands
- Malta 1-2 Norway
- Play off – Norway 1-2 Serbia (after extra time)
Serbia who eliminated Norway were then knocked out by Scotland on penalties in their next play-off, with David Marshall saving Alexsandr Mitrovic’s deciding spot kick to send the Tartan Army to their first major tournament since the 1998 World Cup.
The son of former Leeds and Manchester City star Alf-Inge Haaland has an incredible 41 goals in 41 games this season, but will not be showcasing his talent at this summer’s European Championships.
He doesn’t seem to mind too much though, jetting off to Monaco for the Formula One Grand Prix on Sunday.
The tournament is scheduled to get underway on the 11 June at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome as Turkey take on Italy in Group A.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk