- Erling is not a machine

Human: German electronics group Kraftwerk sings “Die Mensch-Maschine” – Machine Man. Dortmund say it is not Erling Braut Haaland who has asked Norway not to take him to upcoming international matches. Photo: LEON KUEGELER / X03731

Norway is still hoping that Erling Braut Haaland (21) can make it to the next international matches. Borussia Dortmund asks Norway to let him rest.

Erling Braut Haaland suffers from a muscle injury and did not play for Dortmund against Augsburg on Saturday.

Erling tried, and he always will. But it didn’t work out, says coach Marco Rose of the striker’s match against the clock.

This is the third consecutive match that the 21-year-old has faced with the club’s squad. The injury time comes at the worst possible time for the Norwegian national team, who will play a fateful match against Turkey on Friday. Montenegro is waiting on Monday.

National team manager Staley Solbakken and the rest of the Norwegian support staff are still hopeful that Haaland is ready to play in the national matches, but Dortmund are requesting that the top scorer has time to recover from the injury.

– Doesn’t look good for Norway either. It would be good if we removed the pressure now. Erling is a human being, not a machine. And it’s important to get the boy in good shape now. For BVB and Norway, says Rose.

“The BVB looks with great astonishment” that Norway is still hoping to use Haaland, local newspaper Ruhr Nachrichten writes. Last Sunday, national team doctor Ola Sand told NTB they had not given up hope.

Norway can secure their grip on one of the top two spots in the table in the World Cup qualifiers by beating Turkey:

Source: sofascore.com

Haaland’s injury is just the tip of the iceberg in the Norwegian team. Especially thin at the edge:

Real Sociedad striker Alexander Sorloth was definitely left out of the squad.
On Saturday, Joshua King was injured off the field for Watford before the break against Leeds. He will have an MRI on Monday.
Foton Berisha ended up putting an ice pack on his leg after the Vikings’ game against Sandefjord on Saturday, but he expressed his access to the national matches.

National team crisis: This could be an alternative

Solbakken did not call any replacements for Haaland and King, as it was not made clear whether the duo could join the pool or not.

Sander Berg and Andre Hansen miss injuries before. Goalkeeper Per Kristian Bråtveit did not finish his match with Nimes on Saturday.

– I’ve never had a similar injury case before any rally, neither on handball or the national soccer team, says the national team doctor Sanded to NTB.