Haaland tips France to beat Norway, says, ‘they'll probably win the World Cup"

Is Erling Braut Haaland a robot? The question seems like a joke, but every match he plays invites it to be asked again.

At this World Cup, some of the greatest attacking stars of the era coexist. Each one pursues goals in their own way. Leo Messi finds them through an understanding of the game, of space, and of patience.

Kylian Mbappé chases them at full speed, attacking open ground like no one else. Vinicius creates chances through dribbling and imbalance. Harry Kane blends build-up play with finishing. And then there is Haaland.

Because the Norwegian seems to be playing a different sport. With the force of a Nordic storm, the number 9 cuts across the grass like an indomitable conqueror. His figure, close to two meters tall, and his physical power intimidate any defence. However, the most extraordinary thing about his game is not his physique. It is his relationship with the ball.

While modern football rewards constant involvement, Haaland accepts disappearing. He doesn’t need to intervene. He doesn’t need to monopolise the game. Like a hunter who waits motionless for the exact moment to strike, he remains on the sidelines for long periods. And when he appears, it is usually already too late for the opponent. His World Cup is helping to explain why he represents an endangered species.

‘‘ I’m just very good at scoring goals, and I’m also a bit lucky. I don’t know exactly what I do, but that’s how it is.’’

For years, it has been repeated that the classic striker was doomed to disappear. Modern attackers were expected to learn to play away from the penalty area, combine with teammates, press, create overloads, and constantly take part in build-up play. Scoring no longer seemed enough. But Haaland has arrived at his first World Cup to challenge that theory.

In his first two World Cup matches, he has scored four goals. What is extraordinary is not the number. What is extraordinary is how he has achieved it. Against Iraq, in Norway's debut, he scored two goals after touching the ball barely 25 times. Against Senegal, he repeated the story. For many minutes, he seemed disconnected from the match, as if he were watching the game from another dimension. In the first half, he barely got involved (11 touches). After the break, he needed very little to punish again. He scored two more goals and finished the match with only 23 touches. 48 touches to place himself second, tied with Mbappé, in the race for the Golden Boot.

One goal every twelve involvements. The numbers seem more typical of a video game than of the most demanding tournament on the planet. And yet, they perfectly explain who Haaland is... although not even he seems to find an overly complex explanation for his phenomenon. "I don't know. I think my speciality is scoring goals. As in many other things, I'm simply very good at scoring goals, and I also have a bit of luck. I don't know exactly what I do, but that's how it is," he said.

"Honestly, I don't really care much right now. We've gone through. We've qualified, which is incredible, so right now I don't care too much about that match. They'll probably beat us. They'll probably win the whole tournament," he said when asked about his clash with Mbappé's France.

Before the tournament began, the spotlight was on Messi and Mbappé. The Argentine was chasing another great World Cup performance at 38. The Frenchman arrived as the natural heir to the throne of world football. Both seemed destined to monopolise the conversation. Then the Norwegian giant appeared. A monster who has come to see them. So, is Erling Braut Haaland a robot? Probably not. But if there is a footballer designed to score, he looks a lot like him.