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Viewers were left stunned by Norway manager Stale Solbakken’s decision to substitute star striker Erling Haaland in extra time of their World Cup quarter-final with England, sparking injury fears.
Haaland has been at the heart of Norway’s impressive run at their first World Cup since 1998, scoring seven goals - including two in their sublime last-16 win over Brazil - to take the Scandinavian side to the last-eight.
But with Norway needing his goalscoring heroics more than ever as they trailed 2-1 to England, Haaland was bizarrely substituted at half-time of extra time by Solbakken.
He was replaced by Crystal Palace striker Jorgen Strand Larsen, who had battled illness the week prior to be fit for the clash in Miami.
“It has to be an injury,” Alan Shearer told BBC Sport. “There is no way you take Haaland off if you are in desperate need of a goal.”
Former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson added: “It must be fatigue for Erling Haaland because we have not seen him go down with an injury and it's not a decision the manager would want to make.”
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