Prior to the match, large pro-Palestinian protests with around 1,000 participants took place outside Ullevål in Oslo, and during the Israeli national anthem, large parts of the Norwegian audience booed.
Then the Norwegian national team went out and ran over Israel in the first half.
Hattrick by Haaland
Already in the third minute, Norway was awarded a penalty, which Daniel Peretz saved. However, in the VAR room, it could be seen that the Israeli goalkeeper had left the goal line too early and the penalty was retaken.
But even on the second attempt, Peretz saved Erling Braut Haaland's penalty. It would prove not to mean much for the match.
The 1–0 goal came after Alexander Sørloth's cross went via an Israeli player into the goal. Shortly after, Haaland got revenge for his double penalty misses when he scored 2–0.
Just a minute later, 3–0 came, when Israel made another own goal. This time after Peretz's clearing attempt went straight to Idan Nachmias into his own goal.
With half an hour left, Haaland scored his second goal of the evening, and in the 72nd minute, the City striker's hattrick was a fact.
Norway is thus on its way to securing a direct ticket to the World Championship 2026 in the USA, Canada, and Mexico. Norway tops its qualifying group with 18 points scored. Italy beat Estonia 3–1 on Saturday evening and is second with 12 points, but has one match less played.
"Deserve it"
Norway has not played in the World Championship since 1998 and has not reached a championship since the European Championship 2000. Neither the national team coach Ståle Solbakken nor the players have taken anything for granted, but the players were allowed to celebrate in the city of Oslo after the big win.
They deserve it. We have been locked in until today, and I think it's important that we socialize in other contexts as well, says Solbakken, whose national team meets New Zealand in a friendly match on Tuesday.
After the match against Israel, 100–200 demonstrators were outside the arena and some of them broke through the police's barricades. The police used tear gas against the demonstrators who did not retreat. 17 people were arrested and are suspected of, among other things, vandalism and disobedience to the authorities, reports NRK.
