0
0
Haaland has been forced to withdraw from the Norwegian team due to a groin injury.
The 22-year-old has returned to his club, where he has scored eight goals in his last two outings, for more testing on the injury, which Norway claims he sustained during Saturday’s 6-0 FA Cup quarter-final win against Burnley.
Haaland will miss his country’s first two Euro 2024 qualifiers away to Spain and Georgia, and may now face a race against time to return for the Premier League’s resumption on April 1 when Liverpool visit the Etihad Stadium for a 12.30pm kick-off, a crucial match for City in the title race as they currently sit eight points behind leaders Arsenal.
“Erling Braut Haaland experienced some soreness in his groin following the match against Burnley,” the Norwegian FA said in a statement.
“We believed that this was simply a fluke and that he’d be fine for Saturday’s games against Spain and Georgia, but after completing tests and inspections yesterday, it became evident that he won’t be able to play.
“According to national team doctor Ola Sand, it is preferable that he undergo medical treatment at the club.
“As a result, Haaland returns home from the national team meeting.”
Erling Haaland leaves Norway camp after injury
Norway went on to state that Haaland was unhappy to miss his country’s first two qualifiers, but that they expect to impress even without him.
“Erling took it hard when he realized he couldn’t fight for the squad,” the statement went on to say.
“Fortunately, there is still sufficient of self-confidence, talent and togetherness in this squad to earn points in the following matches.
“We’re not going to hang on a centimeter,” says national team manager Stale Solbakken, “but we’re going to keep working to be as prepared as possible for Saturday and Tuesday.”
Norway is in Group A table along with Scotland and Cyprus, in addition to Spain and Georgia, as they attempt to qualify for their first European Championships since 2000.
City hosts Liverpool in the Premier League on April 1, then travels to Southampton the following weekend before hosting Bayern Munich in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final on April 11.
Haaland, who scored five goals in City’s last-16 Champions League win against RB Leipzig, has 42 goals in his debut City season and 21 goals in 23 senior international games.
