Erling Haaland’s Norway were thumped by Austria in the Nations League (Picture: Getty)
Erling Haaland has come under fire in the wake of Norway’s 5-1 thrashing at the hands Austria, with the Manchester City striker deciding to swerve questions from the media after the one-sided contest.
Austria captain Marko Arnautovic opened the scoring in the eighth minute of the Nations League clash, before Alexander Sorloth pulled a goal back to ensure the two teams went in all square at the halfway stage at Linz’s Raiffeisen Arena.
But Austria wrestled back the lead as Arnautovic converted a 49th-minute penalty and the floodgates soon opened, with goals from Philipp Lienhart, Stefan Posch and Michael Gregoritsch sealing the hosts an emphatic victory.
The result saw Austria draw level with Norway at the top of Group B3, with both teams accumulating seven points after four games.
Haaland – wearing the captain’s armband in Martin Odegaard’s absence – cut a frustrated figure up front for the most part and it was clear the forward’s grievances still lingered as he ignored reporters in the mixed zone after the final whistle.
‘It’s a shame. If there is anyone we want to hear from after a violent slump, it’s the captain,’ Norwegian footballer Kristoffer Lokberg, a pundit for NRK, later told VG.
‘How did you feel after the goal to make it 3-1? What do you do? When you are captain, you have been assigned a role that requires a little extra. You should stand up.
The Manchester City forward cut a frustrated figure up front in Linz (Picture: Getty)
‘At the same time, I have great respect for the fact that he is in a special position when it comes to attention and requests.
‘I understand that he has a strict regime around him in everyday life.
‘But when you have the captain’s armband for the Norwegian national team, he should stand up and say a few words.’
Arnautovic scored twice in Austria’s resounding win over Norway (Picture: Getty)
Once the dust had settled on Norway’s loss, Haaland took to Instagram to apologise for his side’s display.
‘Sorry everyone, this was far too bad on my part,’ the attacker wrote.
‘In November, we go for six points.’
Norway return to Nations League action away to Slovenia on October 14 before entertaining Kazakhstan in Oslo three days later.
Haaland will hope to get back to winning ways in the Premier League this weekend when second-placed Manchester City take on Wolves at Molineux.
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