Erling Haaland has shown his playful side once again in a new advert featuring his dad Alf-Inge ahead of Norway’s World Cup quarter-final against England.
The 25-year-old, who joked yesterday about all the media attention he’s received this week, is the face of Budweiser’s World Cup promotion campaign.
Having starred in a hilarious pre-tournament video alongside ex-Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, this time it’s the turn of Haaland’s retired footballer father to test out his acting skills.
The video begins with a shot of a denim shirt, before panning up to Haaland’s face as Alf-Inge narrates: ‘What a thing of beauty. A machine that always delivers. Precise, reliable, making people celebrate, especially after a goal or two. It’s just perfect.’
Haaland, struggling to contain his laughter, then responds: ‘Thanks dad’, before his father quickly interjects: ‘No, I was talking about this’ – a pint of Budweiser.
The advert was made on behalf of both Budweiser and Perfect Draft, a beer keg-making company, to celebrate the launch of Let It Pour.
Erling Haaland has starred in a new Budweiser advert featuring his dad ahead of Norway’s World Cup quarter-final against England
Haaland – playing in his first World Cup – has enjoyed a stellar tournament and is gearing up to face England in what is set to be a huge clash in Miami on Saturday.
The Vikings had never won a knockout match at a major tournament prior to this summer, but have so far beaten Ivory Coast and Brazil on their route to the quarter-final.
On what he described as the ‘biggest night in Norwegian football history’, the Man City striker bagged two late-on against the Selecao to knock out Neymar Jr, Casemiro and Co.
The first, on 79 minutes, saw the 6ft 5in striker leap above his old foe Gabriel Magalhaes to nod home before, a little more than 10 minutes later, he fired an effort from distance past Alisson Becker.
Speaking afterwards, the Man City star gushed: ‘Brazil is a football nation. They are probably the first football nation you learn about because of all the legendary players who have played there, The shirt, country, the passion, all the greats they’ve had. It’s a bit unreal to play against Brazil.
‘It still seems unreal, like something so far-fetched. I never imagined this could happen, which makes the fact we actually managed to beat Brazil even more surreal to me. It’s been incredible. I need to relax and get some sleep because I’m completely exhausted.’
The Norwegians were afforded the opportunity to go out and celebrate the victory by manager Stale Solbakken, but are since understood to have been hit by a bout of sickness.
Since landing in North America last month, the Scandinavians have travelled thousands of miles.
Haaland scored twice to help Norway beat the Brazilians 2-1 – and celebrated in the stands with his girlfriend afterwards
Having begun their campaign in Boston, they flew to New Jersey, before heading back to Boston and then down to Dallas. Their Round of 16 match against Brazil was meanwhile played back in New Jersey.
And, according to Norwegian outlet Dagbladet, all of that jet-setting has taken its toll on the squad.
Crystal Palace forward Jorgen Strand Larsen missed the opening game of the tournament through illness, while Marcus Holmgren Pedersen was absent from the clash against Brazil with a bug.
Manager Solbakken was also spotted coughing violently at a press conference after Norway’s 4-1 defeat to France.
Goalkeeper Orjan Nyland later verified reports of an illness in the camp, claiming the team doctor is ‘very busy’.
‘I can confirm that it’s true. We’ve had our issues,’ Nyland told James Corden’s Fox show.
‘We’re doing the best that we can and the team doctor is very busy at the moment.
‘I don’t have any clue. We have had some time off so maybe someone contracted anything during the time off. Hopefully everything goes well and we face England with a fully rested squad on Saturday.’
The Vikings will, however, need to be at the top of their game on Saturday against a Three Lions side brimming with confidence on the back of their 3-2 win over Mexico.
Thomas Tuchel’s side are preparing for the clash with a few injury doubts, though the German has been dealt a boost as Reece James returned to training this week.
The 26-year-old had missed the last three games through injury but is expected to be included in the squad at the Hard Rock Stadium.
England have lost right back Jarell Quansah to a two-game suspension after his red card against Mexico, while Tino Livramento was sent home before the tournament began with a calf injury.
Djed Spence had looked likely to come in for the last-eight tie after recovering from a slight knock that kept him out of the starting XI in Mexico. James’ condition will now be monitored.
Meanwhile, Declan Rice is expected to be fine for Norway as he continues to manage hamstring and back pain. Defender Marc Guehi is also managing some muscle fatigue.
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