Erling Haaland will make his World Cup debut for Norway against Iraq on Tuesday at the Boston Stadium. Coach Ståle Solbakken expressed confidence in the star striker's readiness for the fixture.
Solbakken praised Haaland's tournament preparation: "I think he is the world's best goalscorer. He is physically fit. I think he has gradually played better and better in training. He is where he wants to be and hopefully the team can give him the service he needs to get goals. If you give Erling chances, he has a tendency to score."
Solbakken dismissed speculation linking Haaland to Real Madrid, stating that the club "hasn't talked about it at all" and it "doesn't interest me." Former Chelsea striker Tore André Flo highlighted the squad's depth, noting: "We have the top scorer in the Premier League and the captain of the team that won the Premier League. There are lots of players who can positively decide a result."
Haaland's World Cup debut confirmation and fitness status may influence Norway's group-stage odds and striker goal-scorer markets given his elite scoring record.
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