Erling Haaland has fired a brutal reminder to Wayne Rooney: pay up or paddle out. The Norway striker called out the England legend ahead of Saturday’s World Cup quarter-final, demanding Rooney honour his bet to row down the River Mersey after Norway reached the last eight for the first time in their history.
“I’m looking forward to seeing Wayne, Wayney boy,” Haaland said. “I’m looking forward to seeing Wayne Rooney rowing down in Liverpool. That’s all I want to see now. Wayne Rooney, I expect you to go out on a rowing trip.”
“Erling Haaland reminds Wayne Rooney of his bet to row down the River Mersey if Norway reached the World Cup quarter-finals.”
Rooney had famously wagered: “If Norway get to the quarter-finals, I’ll go in the River Mersey and row down it.” Norway’s 2-0 win over Brazil – with both goals from Haaland – triggered the forfeit. Rooney, reminded by BBC host Kelly Cates, initially played dumb (“Was that me?”) before insisting he is “a man of my word”. He suggested a location change, saying: “The only thing I’ll say is, because we’ve got a lot on, it might have to be the Hudson River when we’re in New York. If the BBC can sort that.” Pundit Joe Hart volunteered to join him: “I’ll do the Hudson with you.”
Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram offered an alternative: a rowing boat or, in a few months, the captain’s chair of the new £26m Mersey Ferry. BBC Sport added to the pressure with a mocked-up graphic of Rooney rowing under the caption “Over to you.”
The bet stemmed from Norway’s viral post-match rowing celebration, where players mimic rowing to a drumbeat. England fans will hope Norway cannot perform it after Saturday’s match in Miami.
BBC Sport expert Chris Sutton predicts France to beat Morocco in the other quarter-final, having backed France from the start. He warned Morocco must play well for 90 minutes – something they have not done so far – and key forward Ismael Saibari’s injury is a blow. “They were really poor in the first half against Canada in the last 16,” Sutton said. “If they start like that again, they will be in big trouble.”
Sutton, who correctly predicted Norway’s win over Brazil, is backing England favourites against Norway. The winners face Switzerland or Argentina in Wednesday’s semi-final in Atlanta. Rooney, meanwhile, may still be drying off.