Give Martin Ødegaard his flowers tonight, he has absolutely run the show tonight.
He dictated the entire game, everything Norway did went through him and Brazil simply couldn’t get near him.
- 101/109 passes completed.
- Most touches in the opposition box.
- Covered every blade of grass.
An outstanding performance.
🚨 Gabriel Magalhães on Erling Haaland:
🗣️ “Playing against Haaland feels less like football and more like surviving a Scandinavian home appliance with elite finishing ability.”
“But I respect him because he never hides from the physical battle. And he knows I’m the same. I defend like an angry Brazilian uncle protecting the barbecue from uninvited guests.”
“After 90 minutes we are both exhausted, frustrated and still trying to bully each other physically for no reason. Honestly, it’s probably very entertaining to watch from far away.”
🚨 Erling Haaland on the toughest defender he has faced:
🗣️ “Honestly, it’s those two Arsenal F.C. boys, Gabriel and Saliba. But Gabriel? That guy annoys me.
Gabriel doesn’t defend like somebody doing a job. He defends like a man trying to protect ancient secrets. I remember one time I checked my shoulder before receiving the ball and somehow he was already there staring at me aggressively. It’s honestly unsettling.”
“But seriously, he’s top class. Every striker complains about defenders like him because they make your life miserable, but deep down you respect them the most. I would absolutely love to have a player with that mentality in my team. Facing him again at the World Cup will be special.”