As Norway continue preparing for their UEFA Nations League clash with Kazakhstan, all eyes will be on Erling Haaland, whose scintillating goal-scoring form in the competition is a major talking point.
The Norwegian striker has netted 12 goals in just ten UEFA Nations League appearances, showcasing his extraordinary ability and cementing his status as one of Europe’s most formidable forwards.
Haaland’s record in the Nations League is particularly remarkable given his consistency in scoring across different environments. He has struck six times in four away matches.
His impressive tally will be crucial for Norway as they aim to rebound from a disappointing 3-1 loss to Denmark and kickstart their campaign in Group B3.
Norway’s previous records in major tournaments have been less stellar. They missed out on Euro 2024 and their last appearance in the European Championship was in 2000, where they were eliminated in the group stage.
Despite this, their Nations League performances have been encouraging, and they remain a competitive side in Division B, having narrowly missed promotion to the top tier in the last edition.
Kazakhstan, led by new manager Stanislav Cherchesov, will be making their debut against Norway.
Despite their recent struggles, including a run of four consecutive friendly defeats, the Hawks have shown resilience in the Nations League, having been promoted from Division C in the previous campaign.
Their defense, however, has been a weak spot, with veteran goalkeeper Igor Shatskiy conceding multiple goals frequently.
For Kazakhstan, facing a prolific scorer like Haaland will be a significant challenge.
If the Norwegian striker continues his Nations League goal-scoring spree, he could be the key to securing a crucial victory for Norway and continuing their pursuit of success in this year’s competition.
