Norway’s Sørloth Targeted With Death Threats After World Cup Exit

Norway forward Alexander Sørloth has been subjected to severe online abuse, including death threats, in the wake of the national team’s extra-time World Cup quarterfinal loss to England on Saturday, manager Ståle Solbakken confirmed.

The backlash stemmed from a pivotal moment in the 44th minute, with Norway leading 1-0 on a two-on-one counter-attack. Sørloth, with teammate Erling Haaland completely unmarked beside him, opted to shoot rather than pass. His attempt was blocked, and England equalized shortly after, before going on to win 2-1 in extra time on a goal from Jude Bellingham, ending Norway’s best-ever World Cup run.

Sørloth’s partner, Lena Selnes, shared screenshots on her Instagram account documenting a stream of hostile and threatening messages directed at him over several days, including comments wishing him physical harm and telling him to leave the country. Solbakken addressed the abuse at a press conference in Miami, calling it tragic and saying it reflects the world athletes now operate in. He said he encourages his players to stay off social media on difficult days like this one, and described the messages as senseless on every level.

Sørloth defended his decision in the moment, explaining that England defender John Stones had effectively closed off the passing lane to Haaland. He said passing to Haaland was his intention, but when it didn’t feel available, he chose to shoot instead. Speaking to Norwegian outlet VG afterward, Sørloth said the result weighs heavily given how far Norway had advanced in the tournament, though he expressed confidence that more opportunities lie ahead in his career.

The loss brought an end to a historic tournament run for Norway, which advanced further than at any point in its World Cup history. Behind the play of Haaland and captain Martin Ødegaard, the team won its first-ever World Cup knockout matches, defeating Ivory Coast in the round of 32 and Brazil in the round of 16 before falling to England in the quarterfinals. Along the way, Norwegian supporters popularized “the Viking Row,” a synchronized fan chant and rowing motion that became one of the tournament’s most visible traditions.

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Article by Erik Meers