Why the Norwegian star went viral after buying a $750 stuffed raccoon in Dallas
Erling Haaland may have left the World Cup without a trophy, but he didn’t go home empty-handed.
Norway’s 2-1 quarter-final defeat to England on Sunday ended the Manchester City striker’s chances of taking any silverware to Norway, but he still left the tournament with a host of souvenirs.
Haaland documented her fondness for American culture as she purchased a pair of cowboy boots and a handful of personalized Stetsons from a store in Dallas, but her most recent souvenir was a stuffed raccoon carrying a bottle of alcohol.
The 25-year-old was photographed carrying the souvenir as he and his teammates flew back to Norway.
Haaland shared on
The striker may have purchased the raccoon from Wild Bill’s Western Store in Dallas, and the animal is listed on the store’s website for $750 (AUD$1083).
Haaland posted a selfie of herself wearing red sunglasses before boarding her flight to Oslo, with the caption: “Goodbye, it was emotional.”
The striker, who attracted the attention of the American public with the seven goals he scored as Norway reached the quarter-finals of the World Cup for the first time, claimed that he had the “best six weeks in the world” after the defeat against England. [his] life”.
“It was completely surreal,” Haaland said after the quarter-final. “It’s hard to talk about it right now because I’m pretty depressed, but these 40-plus days have gone by so quickly. This is a memory that will last a lifetime.”
“I hope people at home are happy with what we did. We should be proud, but at the same time we should learn from these types of matches.”
“The quarter-finals of the World Cup are determined by small details and we won this against us. England have previous experience and they managed to turn this to their advantage.
“It was really special playing in such high humidity today. It was tough. It’s completely over to be honest.”
Jude Bellingham scored England’s winning goal in the quarter-final match and Haaland was surprisingly taken off in extra time, but head coach Stale Solbakken said the striker had a leg injury.
“Obviously he had a fantastic World Cup, we used his energy and strength for match after match,” Solbakken said.
“I think he also had an injury in the second half, combined with fatigue. But he did his best; he was a bit unlucky in some situations, but he scored seven goals in five games for us. He had a great World Cup.”
Telegraph, London
