PORTO, Portugal (AP) — Norway coach Ståle Solbakken revealed he had a “heart-to-heart conversation” with Erling Haaland regarding concerns about the striker's heavy workload ahead of a Nations League loss to Portugal in which the Manchester City star asked to be substituted.
Haaland gestured to Norway's bench that he needed to come off and was replaced in the 67th minute of the 2-1 defeat in Porto on Sunday. He was seen limping on the field ahead of the substitution, raising concerns about his fitness before his return to City — a club under heavy scrutiny for being the subject of a huge financial scandal in the Premier League.
Speaking after the Portugal game, Solbakken didn't say Haaland had sustained an injury but talked about the heavy workload the striker had been facing after playing the full game in Norway's first three Nations League fixtures — a win over Denmark and losses to Portugal and Wales. That came after a busy start to the English season with City, after reaching the World Cup quarterfinals with Norway over the summer.
“He (Haaland) was tired against Wales. That’s why we had a heart-to-heart conversation yesterday. We went through the possible options,” Solbakken said in quotes carried in the Norwegian media. “He might have played the last 45 minutes against Portugal. That was a discussion. But he has very bad vibes and feelings about it. ... I am very pleased that he managed to pull out 60 good minutes.”
Haaland didn't score on Sunday or against Wales on Thursday — the two games Norway has played since the verdict by an independent commission on City's financial case was published. He had scored in the first two games in this international break and is on a record 65 goals in 59 appearances for his country.
Haaland is the only senior, out-and-out striker in City's squad, whose first match back after the internationals is at Liverpool on Sunday.
“He plays pretty much everything on the club team,” Solbakken said.
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Norway's Erling Haaland gestures during the Nations League soccer match between Portugal and Norway in Porto, Portugal, Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Luis Vieira)
Norway head coach Stale Solbakken embraces Norway's Erling Haaland as he leaves the pitch after being substituted during the Nations League soccer match between Portugal and Norway in Porto, Portugal, Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Luis Vieira)
Norway's Erling Haaland reacts during the Nations League soccer match between Portugal and Norway in Porto, Portugal, Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Luis Vieira)
MADRID (AP) — Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced early elections Monday after his government suffered a bruising legislative defeat last week on emergency measures related to the country’s housing crisis.
The vote will be held Nov. 29.
In recent weeks, Spaniards have demanded solutions from the government over housing affordability, holding protests in cities across the country after public outrage grew over the televised eviction of an 87-year-old woman in Madrid last month.
Right-wing opposition parties joined forces to scuttle two emergency decrees in Parliament that included measures to reduce evictions and real estate speculation. The setback sparked wide speculation that Sánchez could consider moving up a national election from next year.
In a televised address, Sánchez argued that a broader progressive coalition in Parliament would allow Spaniards to tackle the biggest issues facing the country today.
“The time has come, therefore, for the Spanish people to decide what future you want for yourselves and for your country,” Sánchez said.
Sánchez, 54, has been Spain’s prime minister since 2018, making him one of Europe’s longest-standing leaders.
He has become one of the leading international progressive heads of government thanks to his defense of migration, his diplomatic efforts to defend Palestinians and his criticism of the American and Israeli war against Iran.
He has also enjoyed one of the fastest growing economies in the developed world in recent years.
But back home, the Spanish leader has been hemmed in by a series of legal cases involving his Socialist party as well as his wife and brother, who both deny wrongdoing.
He has also struggled to account for this summer’s border crossing by tens of thousands of mostly Moroccans into Spain’s North African territory of Ceuta, where a humanitarian crisis remains two months after the initial crisis.
He has led a coalition minority government along with the left-wing junior partner Sumar since 2023. But his reliance on several smaller parties to get anything done has hamstrung his legislative ability.
Throughout his political career, Sánchez has earned a reputation as a political escape artist capable of winning elections he looked set to lose.
The Socialist leader appears set to face another tough election against the conservative Popular Party that holds the most seats in Parliament already and will aim to retake control of the government.
The formal dissolution of parliament will need to be approved by the Cabinet, which Sánchez has convened for later Monday.
Wilson reported from Barcelona, Spain.
People seen through a window inside a bar in La Cabrera, on the outskirts of Madrid, Spain, watch a televised speech by Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez from La Moncloa Palace announcing national elections, Monday, Oct. 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)
People at a bar in La Cabrera, on the outskirts of Madrid, Spain, watch a televised speech by Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez from La Moncloa Palace announcing national elections, Monday, Oct. 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)
FILE - A partially damaged poster of Spanish Prime Minister and Socialist Party candidate Pedro Sanchez flaps in Parla, on the outskirts of Madrid, Spain, April 26, 2019. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue, File)
FILE - Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez attends the inauguration of the Tower of Jesus Christ by Pope Leo XIV at the Basilica of the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, Spain, Wednesday, June 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue, File)
FILE - Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez poses for a portrait after an interview with The Associated Press at the Moncloa Palace in Madrid, Spain, June 27, 2022. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue, File)
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, left, applauds at the Spanish parliament in Madrid, Friday Oct. 2, 2026. (Eduardo Parra/Europa Press via AP)
People demonstrate to demand stronger laws to protect renters in Madrid, Spain Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026. The banner reads in Spanish: toward the general strike. (AP Photo/Andrea Comas)
People demonstrate to demand stronger laws to protect renters in Madrid, Spain Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Andrea Comas)
People hold up keys as a sign of protest during a demonstration demanding stronger laws to protect renters in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Andrea Comas)
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez arrives at the Spanish parliament in Madrid, Friday Oct. 2, 2026. (Eduardo Parra/Europa Press via AP)
