May 30, 2019. A date that was set by fire for Norway, football lovers, Haaland and especially for Honduras. On matchday three of the U-20 World Cup group stage a Norwegian named Erling Haaland went down in history by scoring nine goals of the 12 that his selection endorsed him Honduras, a competition record. The funny thing is that it was the only game that the Norwegians won, which were eliminated, but it was the perfect showcase for a guy who had signed for Salzburg six months earlier.
Today, Wednesday 24 at 20:45, Norway visits Gibraltar to face the modest team and there are not few who believe that the way the forward is playing, leave another memorable performance. Faced with this possibility, Norwegian newspaper VG has spoken with José Luis Rodríguez, Costa Rican agent of four of the Hondurans who played that game (Wesly Decas, Axel Gómez, Gerson Chávez and Carlos Mejía), and given the refusal of his representatives to remember that day, it was he who remembered the hell that Haaland made them live.
“It was traumatic for the players. A humiliation. Even for what we were seeing as well. Is a open wound. They will not relive the nightmare or be “humiliated” by a Norwegian newspaper. They are ashamed, I think many years will pass before they overcome, “explains the agent who acknowledges that they knew nothing about Haaland until that day.
That match is considered a black day for Honduras with fans calling for the resignation of those responsible for such humiliation. “For the players it was horrible, they cried a lot. Back home, all of Honduras was talking 'shit' about them. The press asked for their heads, they wanted to fire the president, the coaches… The players came under great pressure. Many say it is the worst experience of your life“, says José Luis Rodríguez.
The agent himself experienced a curious anecdote the next day that demonstrates Haaland's insatiable hunger. At the airport a photo was taken and Rodríguez told him that he had ruined his boys to what Haaland replied that he was upset that he could have scored eleven goals.
Hours before the game against Gibraltar, José Luis Rodríguez warns the national team, “it can happen again. As he is playing, he can now score nine goals again“The record for goals in a World Cup qualifying match is held by Austrian Hans Krankl, who endorsed Malta six in 1977. Tonight will see if the Norwegian further increases his vast list of records.