Sorloth, Haaland and Ödegaard struggles leave Norway blunt weeks before World Cup | OneFootball

Norway's attacking spearhead of Alexander Sorloth, Erling Haaland and Martin Ödegaard is stuttering for differing reasons, weeks out from the World Cup and a 26 June Group I date with France in Foxborough.

Friday's friendly in Amsterdam at 20:45 may reveal little, with Haaland rested, Ödegaard injured and Sorloth short on confidence. According to L'Équipe, Norway were Euro qualifying's best attack with 37 goals in 8 matches.

In Norway, attention has turned to Haaland's off-field moves, including investment in a new World Chess Championship circuit and a 16th-century book donated to the Byrne library, while his return has dipped to three in his last 10 for Manchester City, though he still leads the Premier League with 22 in 29.

Coach Stale Solbakken links the lull to workload, with Haaland on a club-high 3,418 minutes this season. He will miss the Netherlands trip, then rejoin for Tuesday's Switzerland game in Oslo at 18:00.

Ödegaard has suffered knee, shoulder and muscle issues, missing 23 Arsenal games in all competitions, including Sunday's 0-2 League Cup final loss to Manchester City, plus four Norway matches. Solbakken says he is frustrated and has not played for Norway since the 11-1 win over Moldova on 9 September 2025, and he is out of this camp. He has started only 13 Premier League games, faces competition from Eberechi Eze and has hinted at a summer exit despite three years left on his contract.

Sorloth's form has ebbed at Atlético Madrid, aside from a late-February burst, a brace against Espanyol, 4-2, then a hat-trick against Club Bruges, 4-1. Just one in his last seven has coincided with losing ground to Antoine Griezmann and Ademola Lookman, seen as more technical and better for Atlético's collective play. He now tends to start only in La Liga, with Atlético fourth and 16 points behind Barça.

Source: L'Équipe