Alexander Sorloth's failure to release Erling Haaland on a first-half counter-attack has become the defining image of Norway's 2-1 2026 World Cup quarter-final defeat by England in Miami. With Norway leading 1-0, the missed pass left Haaland visibly frustrated and turned a single counter-attack into one of the most replayed moments of their World Cup exit.
The chance came in the 44th minute, when Norway broke forward with Haaland free to Sorloth's left and England scrambling to recover. Instead of playing the simple ball, Sorloth delayed, and England later completed their comeback through Jude Bellingham's brace in a match that ended 2-1 after extra time.
