On 11/7, the Norway national team exited the World Cup 2026 after a 1-2 loss to the England national team. Immediately after the match concluded, many fans expressed anger and regret over a crucial missed opportunity during the game.

In the 44th minute, Norway launched a quick counter-attack, putting Alexander Sorloth in a two-on-one situation against England defender John Stones. On the left flank, Erling Haaland had made a run into open space. However, Sorloth chose not to pass to his teammate, instead continuing to dribble and then shooting directly into the white-shirted defender's leg. Goalkeeper Jordan Pickford subsequently collected the ball.

This play ignited a wave of fierce attacks from the online community targeting the 30-year-old forward from Atletico Madrid. The angry crowd labeled Sorloth with nicknames like "stupid" and "selfish", asserting that the moment he ignored Haaland erased all his efforts throughout the tournament.

Alexander Sorloth (left) of Norway challenges for the ball with Nico O'Reilly of England. Photo: Reuters

On Instagram, thousands of accounts questioned Sorloth's decision. The intensity of the situation spread to the Weibo platform in China, turning the play into a trending topic with numerous critical comments.

The enraged crowd also flooded the personal account of Lena Selnes, Sorloth's girlfriend, to attack her. Mirror (UK) reported that Selnes immediately posted screenshots containing 7 heavily offensive comments to her personal Instagram to expose the incident.

"Football brings much joy, but it also attracts irrational hatred, forcing me to speak out and hope people think carefully before commenting," Selnes said.

Player Alexander Sorloth and his girlfriend Lena Selnes. Photo: Lena Selnes/Instagram

After the match, Sorloth explained the play: "I desperately wanted to pass the ball to Erling, but John Stones blocked the gap, forcing me to take a shot from an unfavorable position."

Forward Alexander Sorloth started all 5 of Norway's matches at the World Cup 2026 but recorded no goals or assists. This performance contrasts sharply with his club form. His lackluster display led home fans to express disappointment and criticize the 30-year-old forward.

The Norway national team concluded its historic journey at the World Cup 2026. After a 28-year absence from the biggest football festival on the planet, the golden generation, led by coach Stale Solbakken, reached the quarter-finals, becoming an interesting phenomenon at this year's tournament.

Minh Phuong (According to Mirror, SCMP, New Straits Times)