Haaland set to make 'very big impact' on Norway's World Cup return, says Solbakken

[p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/haaland-erling/UmV9iQmE/"]Haaland[/a] scored 16 times as [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/norway/8rP6JO0H/"]Norway[/a] powered through qualifying with a perfect record, twice beating [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/italy/hlKvieGH/"]Italy[/a], to secure a first World Cup appearance since 1998.[/p][p]They will [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/iraq-K8aAGt6r/norway-8rP6JO0H/?mid=n9TEVLhA"]kick off their tournament campaign[/a] against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/iraq/K8aAGt6r/"]Iraq[/a] in Boston on Tuesday in a challenging Group I that includes two-time champions [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/france/QkGeVG1n/"]France[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/senegal/hOIsJLJr/"]Senegal[/a].[/p][p]However, they can call on one of the game's most fearsome attackers in Haaland, who shot to prominence with nine goals in an Under-20 World Cup match in 2019 and now steps onto the sport's biggest stage.[/p][p][b]"Hopefully he'll have a very big impact,"[/b] said the 58-year-old Solbakken, who was in the squad as a midfielder the last time Norway went to the World Cup.[/p][embed guid="20ad78b4-d7ce-45d6-a7ca-40491ab55240" url="https://x.com/ErlingHaaland/status/2066604379780653073?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p]Haaland is coming off a third Premier League Golden Boot in four seasons at Manchester City and boasts a remarkable record of 55 goals in 50 caps for Norway.[/p][p][b]"He's our goalscorer. I think he's the world's best goalscorer. He's physically fit, he was given a little bit of a break towards the end of the season,"[/b] Solbakken told reporters on Monday.[/p][p][b]"I think gradually he has played better and better in training here. I think he's where he wants to be and hopefully the team can also give him the service he needs to score goals.[/b][/p][p][b]"If you give Erling chances, he has a tendency to score, so hopefully that continues."[/b][/p][embed guid="bd196980-99a7-4213-a3b1-ffaf97a6b8eb" url="https://x.com/ErlingHaaland/status/2065204532787785751?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p]Solbakken made no attempt to downplay the significance of their opening game against outsiders Iraq, who return to the World Cup for the first time in 40 years.[/p][p][b]"We are in a very competitive group, maybe the hardest of all. If you can start with three points then maybe you are on your way. You can't hide that it's a very important game."[/b][/p][p]Solbakken, who also appeared at Euro 2000 in Norway's last major tournament outing, said it would be a proud moment on Tuesday.[/p][p][b]"For every citizen, to lead out his country in a game like this, especially after 28 years of hurt, that is perhaps the top thing, the number one thing on the list,"[/b] he said.[/p][infobox id="223b89ff-ddb8-4772-8cfb-8f89aea85267" /]