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The first World Cup Erling Haaland remembers was the 2010 edition in South Africa. Fifteen years on tonight he can realise a lifelong dream of leading Norway to the global tournament.

The Norwegians haven't played in a World Cup since 1998, before Haaland was born, and when the 10-year-old sat down to watch the tournament in South Africa, Norway had been eliminated having finished a distant second to Netherlands in qualifying.

Back then the Norwegians were competitive but limited. Right now they are sweeping all before them, inspired by Haaland.

They have a perfect record of seven wins from seven, plundering 33 goals in the process, and need only to avoid losing by a nine-goal margin in Italy to book their place in the USA, Canada and Mexico next summer.

For Haaland, a play

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