The Viking is finally arriving at the party

For years, we have lived in this weird, purgatorial state of watching Erling Haaland devour Premier League defenses like a hungry teenager at a buffet while Norway sat at home watching the World Cup. It was like seeing a Ferrari parked in a garage for the entirety of the racing season. Finally, we get to see the motor run on the 2026 stage.

Norway coach Stale Solbakken has been singing the praises of his striker, telling the media that his star man has been looking sharper with every session on the training pitch. The 58-year-old manager is clearly banking on the fact that when you have a cyborg in your starting XI, you don't need a complex tactical blueprint. You just put the ball on his foot and let the carnage begin.

A venue steeped in glorious history

There is a poetic, almost haunting quality to where Haaland marks his territory this week. The very grass that witnessed the final bow of Diego Maradona at a World Cup is the same ground where the Norwegian machine makes his initial statement. It is a passing of the torch from one otherworldly talent to a guy who looks like he should be raiding coastal villages in the eighth century.

Some skeptics suggest that Haaland might feel the pressure of such massive expectations. Watching his build-up play in club colors can be an ugly affair when he isn't getting service, as The Guardian recently noted about the anticipation surrounding his debut. If his teammates cannot find his runs against high-pressing defenses, we might see the same frustrated figure who occasionally disappears for 80 minutes in the Champions League.

Why this Norway squad isn't just one guy

Let's be real, though. A team is only as good as its engine room, and Norway has been criticized for being a bit of a one-trick pony. Haaland is the finishing move, sure, but a finisher is useless if you can't hit the opponent with a setup move first. We have seen plenty of international sides struggle with that exact balance throughout history.

Solbakken needs to ensure he isn't just relying on Haaland to bail them out of bad defensive transitions. If the midfield fails to track back, Norway is going to get torn apart by faster, more cohesive units. The gap between expectation and execution is often filled with red cards and missed defensive assignments, and this squad hasn't exactly proven they can handle top-tier pressure in a group stage environment.

Still, you cannot take your eyes off the screen when he hits the pitch. There is a primal thrill in watching a guy who essentially defies the laws of Newtonian physics take aim at the back of the net. He brings a 50% chance of scoring whenever he touches the ball inside the box, and that is a terrifying metric for any opposing center-back.

Forget tactical spreadsheets and heat maps for a second. This is about the spectacle of a unique physical specimen. Whether he drags Norway to the knockout rounds or crashes out in glorious fashion, the next two weeks will be defined by his every move. I, for one, am ready to see the internet melt down if he scores a hat-trick in his first 45 minutes.