Zoff at the Vikings because of Haaland!
While the Norwegian national coach Stale Solbakken (54) and his team prepare for the friendly against Armenia, he has to deal with annoying questions about an alleged special treatment of his star striker.
«Unfair to find mistakes»
Solbakken has to defend the BVB goalscorer. Because the Norwegian media landscape is currently taking this to court. Solbakken according to Eurosport: “I think it’s a bit unfair that we’re now trying to find the mistakes we can make with Erling.”
Above all, an article in the newspaper “Addressavisen” caused a stink. The Norwegian cross-country skiing legend Therese Johaug (33) is compared to the national soccer team under the title “Knockout over the footballers”.
“With what she went through, she probably had her weeks and months in which she had to be shielded, although I can’t say for sure,” replies the national coach.
Because Haaland muzzled himself due to the fuss about a possible transfer in the summer and does not answer any questions during the time with the national team. Of course, the media didn’t like that at all.
Haaland wants to be shielded
Solbakken continues: «He is the one everyone would like to write about when it comes to his next move. He told me he would like to be shielded during this meeting.” Haaland explained this to him “in a nice, factual and convincing way”, which is why he sees no reason not to respect the request.
Haaland will talk again during the next national team break in the summer. Because then the eternal saga of his mega transfer should be over, as Solbakken explains.
Meanwhile, Haaland’s journey from Germany to Oslo is also causing displeasure. He did this in a private jet, which was not well received by the media and caused negative reports.
«Wait two hours – impossible»
Solbakken comments on this as follows. Haaland would have had three options for traveling to Oslo: “He could have gotten up at 5 a.m. in Germany and taken the first scheduled flight, but then he would have had to wait two hours at an airport. This is not possible in his current situation. If he had taken the next flight, he would have arrived five or six hours after the others.”
That’s not a scandal, on the contrary: “It made it easy for us, because then he arrives on time and rested and has half a day to recover.”
The national coach and the association take the Viking Zoff easy. Especially because Haaland gives the answers on the pitch. In the 2-0 test win against Slovakia, he scored his 13th international goal in 16 games with a 1-0 win. (wst)