Erling Haaland, meditation devotee and Norway’s calm force at the World Cup | OneFootball

L'Équipe notes that Erling Haaland has projected striking composure for Norway at this World Cup, with England awaiting in the quarter-final in Miami on Saturday at 23:00.

At MetLife Stadium last Sunday he fired in a second against Brazil, then barely celebrated, strolling towards the stands before deciding against removing his shirt. The 90th-minute strike put Norway two ahead and virtually confirmed a first World Cup quarter-final.

Biographer Lars Sivertsen has seen a cooler demeanour than at Manchester City, where he can show frustration when passes go astray. Here he has softened demands, mindful team-mates are not City’s level and aware the squad expects exemplary conduct.

Those close to him cite the uniqueness of this journey. At 25 he had never seen Norway at a World Cup, last was 1998, so qualification already felt big. He has leaned into underdog status, telling English reporters England are among the favourites and the pressure should be on them.

The composure also reflects years of self-work. After joining Molde in 2017 aged 16, he took up meditation and yoga to steady his nerves. “Erling was very emotional,” said former team-mate Michael Vigrestad, speaking to The Athletic last week. He has curbed irritation, with two Premier League yellows this season compared with five in 2022-2023, and says he does not dive, a stance noted when Alan Shearer felt he did Gabriel a favour by staying up in City’s 2-1 win over Arsenal on 19 April. He has seven goals in four matches.

Source: L'Équipe