A 28 year debt, a 3 2 victory through self destruction in defense.

One in 1938, one in 1994, and then five in one go at the 1998 World Cup in France. Over three World Cups and eight matches, Norwegians had stuffed seven balls into the net.

Come the summer of 2026, two group stage matches, and the Norwegians bagged another seven. A 4-1 demolition of Iraq in the opening round, followed by a 3-2 hard-fought win over Senegal. The goal stockpile amassed over 60 years was spent in one week. Norway, back at the World Cup after a 28-year hiatus, cleared their debt ledger in a single stretch.

The man settling the accounts most ruthlessly was Haaland, 25 years old, with 59 goals in 52 national team appearances. A goal monster who starts at 30 goals a season for Manchester City across all competitions, he had to endure a 28-year wait just to touch World Cup turf. With four goals in this tournament, he has already hung the title of Norway's all-time top World Cup scorer around his own neck. The previous record holder, Kjetil Rekdal, managed just two goals across two World Cups (1994 and 1998).

Even though three goals went in, a large part of Norway's attacking work was done by Senegal captain Koulibaly.

In the 43rd minute, Pederson, who had only been a substitute for 20 minutes, capitalized on a defensive error by Koulibaly and blasted a heavy shot into the net. Mendy stretched his left hand desperately but couldn't reach it. Five minutes later, Ødegaard threaded a through ball, Haaland slotted home with his left foot into the bottom corner, and Mendy didn't even complete his second save attempt. By the 58th minute, Koulibaly had another defensive lapse, Haaland took advantage to poke through the line, and from 8 yards out, he lifted his weaker right foot for a volley, making it 3-1.

Koulibaly's two mistakes directly fed two goals. Mendy was a punching bag the whole match, substituted in the 63rd minute after a left knee injury, with Mory Diaw replacing him. For Senegal's defense, the captain gifted two presents, the starting goalkeeper was forced off injured, and the most stable link over 90 minutes was the first to crumble. Sarr scored a brace, but his second goal had to wait until the 90+3rd minute, a chase that lacked any dignity. Possession at 57%, shots 16 to 12 — all advantages on paper. But shots on target trailed 4-6, and expected goals lagged 1.59 to 1.90. Senegal turned possession into prayer beads; the truly lethal daggers were all self-inflicted. A Champions League-winning goalkeeper? He collapsed the hardest in the spot that should never crumble.

In the mixed zone after the match, a Fox Sports reporter asked him how he felt about the final group game against France. Haaland didn't take the bait.

"Honestly, I don't care too much. We're through. We managed to get through which is incredible, so I couldn't care too much about that game."

He quickly added: "They're probably going to win against us, they're probably going to win the whole tournament."

It sounded like a platitude. Read the original words in sequence, and you know he wasn't acting. A man who had been burdened by "When will Norway return to the World Cup?" since he was 18, once the historical debt was cleared, couldn't even be bothered to shout "Let's get France." He laid it all on the table: "They'll probably win the whole thing." Goal.com also cited another line from him: "Let's be realistic — we are absolutely not contenders for World Cup glory."

Once the baggage of "must win" was shed, this striker, who never lacked goals, couldn't even be bothered to pretend.

Solbakken's calculations were clear too. He rested 10 starters for the France match, including Haaland and Ødegaard, calling it a "no-brainer." "We cannot be too greedy. We have to be smart rather than greedy." The bottom line for a team returning to the World Cup after 28 years is simple: secure the Round of 32 ticket by any means necessary, group top spot be damned.

The French showed no mercy. Four days later, Dembélé scored a first-half hat-trick, and Norway lost the group decider 1-4. Haaland sat for all 90 minutes on the bench.

The books are cleared. But in the Round of 32, the opponents won't be helping to dismantle themselves.