16 October 2023 , 21:50
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Spain's ploy to keep Erling Haaland quiet in their crucial win over Norway has been revealed by Dani Carvajal.
The Real Madrid defender was one of the players charged with preventing the prolific Manchester City man from scoring, after he struck twice for his country in the 4-0 win at Cyprus last week. And sure enough, it proved a long night for Haaland, who was starved of service as his side lost 1-0 thanks to Gavi's second-half goal.
The three points were enough to secure Spain's place in Euro 2024 next summer. And the result was also welcomed by Scotland fans, with their qualification also confirmed for the second Euros in a row.
And for Haaland, it was the latest in the string of frustrating games, having also failed to make an impression in City's 1-0 defeat at Arsenal before the international break. Speaking to Teledeporte afterwards, Carvajal explained that all the away players were on board with the formation needed to neutralise 23-year-old.
"Defensively, from Unai (Simon) to Alvaro (Morata) we have been very compact, we have not allowed him to receive any comfortable ball," he said. "Praise the work of the centre-backs because they have done a fantastic job."
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Carvajal started at right back, with Haaland's former club teammate Aymeric Laporte and Robin Le Normand at the heart of the defence. And the 31-year-old implied the squad left Oslo very content at their overall display.
Daniel Carvajal looks to clear under pressure from Erling Haaland (Getty Images)"We came here to win, we played a complete game," Carvajal added. "They hardly gave us any chances and we are going home happy and with our ticket to the Euro."
As for Haaland, his wait to play in a major international tournament continues. Indeed, Euro 2000 represented the last time his country featured on such a stage, with the event ending 19 days before the forward was even born.
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After 52 goals in all competitions in his maiden campaign in England, Haaland has eight to his name this time around but has come under criticism for missing a host of other chances. And Pep Guardiola will want his key man firing on October 21 against Brighton, when the treble winners look to halt a run of back-to-back league defeats.