Erling Haaland has hilariously challenged Wayne Rooney to fulfil his promise and take a rowing trip after Norway reached the World Cup quarter-finals.
Speaking after their last-32 victory over Ivory Coast on June 30, Rooney had poured doubts on Haaland and Co’s hopes of beating Brazil in the last-16.
‘If Norway get to the quarter-finals, I will go in the River Mersey and I’ll row down it,’ Rooney said on BBC Sport.
Norway went on to beat Brazil 2-1, meaning they will face England this evening in Miami in the quarter-finals.
And ahead of that clash, Haaland jokingly followed up on what Rooney had said, which was in relation to the rowing celebration that has become iconic for Norway’s players and fans throughout their run at this tournament.
‘I’m looking forward to seeing Wayne, Wayney boy,’ the Norwegian striker began.
Erling Haaland has hilariously challenged Wayne Rooney to fulfil his rowing promise
Norway’s rowing celebration has become iconic for players and fans at the tournament
‘Wayne Rooney said he was going to row if we went to the quarter-finals. So Wayne Rooney, I expect you to go out on a rowing trip.’
When pressed on Haaland’s comments, Rooney replied: ‘Yeah, I won’t be doing that again.’
‘But no, big Meeks (Micah Richards) is going to come along.’
Richards then interjected and said: ‘I don’t know why you keep bringing me into it!’
Rooney replied: ‘So me, Meeks and Harty (Joe Hart), we’re all taking part aren’t we? We’re just trying to get it put together to do it on the Hudson River (in New York).’
The England legend’s latest comments on his proposed challenge come after he was pressed on his words on Sunday night in the aftermath of the Brazil game, during which Haaland scored both of Norway’s goals.
‘Was that me?,’ he replied. ‘Erm, yeah I’m a man of my word. Micah has agreed to do it with me and Gabby (Logan).
‘We’re a team. They’ve agreed to it. I’ll row no problem. It might have to be the Hudson River if the BBC can sort that. But I’ll do it.’
Meanwhile, speaking after completing a shock upset against the five-time world champions, Haaland was left amazed by what his side had achieved in their first World Cup since 1998.
‘This is incredible, this is mind-blowing,’ Haaland said on his YouTube blog. ‘To win against Brazil and qualify for the quarter-finals was not on our bucket list.
‘It still doesn’t feel real because it’s just so far off like I could never think of this happening, which also makes it so crazy in my head that we actually managed to beat Brazil and go through.’
Haaland has had an incredible impact in his first major tournament, with the 25-year-old scoring seven goals in four games, putting him one behind Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe, who have both struck on eight occasions.
