Erling Haaland scored twice on his World Cup debut as Norway defeated Iraq 4:1 on 17 June in Group I. The Manchester City striker's two-goal performance helped secure a dominant opening victory, with Norway controlling the match throughout their Group I opener.
'I simply did what was expected of me,' Haaland said after the match. 'If I were a Norwegian fan knowing Erling Haaland plays for my team, I would expect him to lead the team to the World Cup,' the striker added, reflecting his confidence as one of the competition's premier attacking talents.
Haaland's quick impact in the tournament sets up Norway's challenging remaining fixtures: Senegal on 23 June and France on 26 June. His early form suggests he could be among the tournament's leading goalscorers as the group stage progresses.
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