​Erling Haaland will soon face England in the FIFA World Cup quarter-final on Saturday, jokingly urging journalists to lay on the pressure for the Three Lions ahead of Norway’s looming clash in Miami. The Manchester City striker has been Norway’s standout player this summer across the United States, Mexico, and Canada, and he has racked up seven goals—tied for second with Kylian Mbappe, behind Lionel Messi’s eight.
In Norway’s last match against Brazil, Haaland—who has netted 162 goals in 198 appearances for City—found the net twice in the final 11 minutes, first with a header and then with a precise low finish from the edge of the area.
Even though Manchester City’s target Morgan Rogers noted the challenge Haaland presents, the effect of his presence is clear for England fans. The prospect of meeting Haaland on the southeast coast of the United States makes for a tense encounter, even if England had initially felt relief at avoiding Brazil, who were eliminated before the quarter-finals for the first time since 1990. Haaland’s form makes Norway a dangerous underdog, yet their chances of winning the tournament remain slim, well under one per cent, a stark contrast to England’s ambitions to reclaim a World Cup title for the first time since 1966.
Haaland, undeniably Norway’s best hope of advancing further, believes that the bulk of the pressure sits on England, which could give Norway a real chance to upset the odds. “Yeah, definitely,” Haaland said on Thursday, as reported by Sky Sports. “There are some clear favourites out there; England is one of them. I think all of you should put every single bit of pressure on the English lads.”
The clubs’ talisman admitted that he did not foresee Norway being just 90 minutes away from a place in the last four, though England’s form has improved substantially since friendlies late last month against New Zealand and Costa Rica. England topped Group I by narrowly edging out Croatia and Panama, while drawing with Ghana, before facing DR Congo in a round of 32 that proved tighter than expected. England, under Thomas Tuchel’s management, fell behind early, but a late fightback secured progress.
In the knockout phase, Harry Kane’s brace in a ten-minute surge helped England advance to the last 16, where they met Mexico at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City. Kane and Jude Bellingham again starred, delivering the key performances that carried England through. Tuchel, opting for a sturdy defensive approach, deployed a low block for much of the match, and while the earlier efforts of players such as Nico O’Reilly, along with Marc Guehi and former City defender John Stones, contributed significantly to the victory, Haaland looms as the primary obstacle England must overcome. Elliot Anderson, now featuring in the squad, continues to push for more creative contributions as Norway prepare for this high-stakes clash.