The excitement for the Euros in Germany next summer took a melancholy turn when Erling Haaland and Martin Odegaard learned that Norway had not qualified for the competition, according to a report by FourFourTwo. Even though they didn’t play on Saturday night, the Norwegian team was counting on Israel to beat Romania in order to maintain their chances of qualifying. Unfortunately, Norway’s chances of competing in the finals were dashed when Romania defeated Israel 2-1 to secure their spot in the Euro 2024 tournament.
With Romania clinching the top spot in Group I, their qualification made it mathematically impossible for Norway to make the cut, leaving Manchester City’s prolific striker, Haaland, and his compatriots without a place in the prestigious tournament. Haaland, currently nursing an ankle injury that sidelines him from Sunday night’s friendly against Scotland, continues to wait for an opportunity to grace a major tournament with his national team. Norway’s absence from major tournaments, notably the World Cup or Euros since Euro 2000, remains a substantial void in Haaland’s career.
While it spelled disappointment for Haaland and Odegaard, the qualification news brought contrasting emotions for other nations. Switzerland’s decisive point against Kosovo secured their second-place finish in Group I, ensuring their participation alongside Romania in the upcoming tournament. Similarly, the Netherlands sealed their passage to Germany with a 1-0 victory over the Republic of Ireland, courtesy of Wout Weghorst’s crucial goal. This victory positioned them behind France as the two teams heading to Euro 2024 from Group B.
However, the dreams of Bulgaria and Kosovo for a playoff spot shattered alongside Norway’s, as their hopes of reaching the finals ended with the conclusion of the qualifying matches.
