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How do you stop Haaland? Wales show how it’s done
Wales will try to repeat the approach that helped them beat Norway 2-1 when they meet again in Oslo on Saturday. Their win showed that Erling Haaland can be contained through coordinated pressure, offering a potential blueprint for other teams facing one of football’s most prolific strikers.
Wales head coach Craig Bellamy favoured pressing high to deny Haaland and his team-mates time on the ball, despite the risk of leaving space behind the defence. Haaland had 24 touches and just two shots in Cardiff, with one on target; Wales also worked to restrict the service from Norway captain Martin Ødegaard, using midfielders such as Ethan Ampadu to protect the space between midfield and defence.
In short
- Wales beat Norway 2-1 by denying Haaland time and space.
- Haaland managed two shots, with one on target.
- Bellamy says stopping him requires a collective effort.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Wales’s high press can disrupt Norway’s build-up before Haaland receives the ball, while coordinated midfield cover can limit the service and space he needs. Their 2-1 win, in which Haaland had few touches and shots, offers evidence that a disciplined team can contain even a prolific striker by applying pressure collectively.
The case against
Pressing high carries a real risk: if Norway play through the pressure, the space behind Wales’s defence could give Haaland chances to exploit. One match may not provide a reliable blueprint, and repeating the approach away in Oslo could be harder if Norway adjust their build-up or deliver the ball to Haaland more effectively.
Explained simply
Erling Haaland is Norway’s centre-forward and one of the game’s most prolific goal-scorers. He is most dangerous when team-mates can find him with passes in and around the penalty area, so opponents often try to limit both his chances and the supply reaching him.
Norway captain Martin Ødegaard helps create those chances from midfield, while Wales midfielder Ethan Ampadu can help protect the space in front of the defence. Pressing high means trying to challenge opponents near their own goal, though it can leave space behind the defence for them to attack.