​Former Norwich City star and ex- Norway midfielder Alex Tettey says confidence is high for his country ahead of their World Cup quarter-final clash with England in Miami on Saturday night, as long as Harry Kane is contained. The Norwegians arrive buoyed by a 2-0 victory over Brazil, courtesy of goals from talisman Erling Haaland, and prepare to meet an England side that has also found form after a thrilling 3-2 win in Mexico, a match in which Kane contributed a goal and an assist.
Kane’s journey with England began with a loan spell at Norwich as a youngster that was interrupted by injuries, but Tettey recalled his early impression of the striker. He said, “I remember how well he struck the ball and how coolly he could finish.” Kane, who failed to score in the Premier League for Norwich during the 2012-13 season, has since developed into a world-class player and England’s all-time leading goalscorer.
Tettey, now 40, added: “I wasn’t surprised at all when he started turning into the striker he is now, because he already had attributes as a young player that were incredible to see. So, yes, he’s top, top, top. He has an eye for the goal, but he also, from his time at Bayern Munich and with the national team, can drop deep; he can suddenly become a midfielder who dictates play and he can still score.” He concluded by saying that Kane is a man Norway definitely shouldn’t give opportunities to.
Tettey spent nine seasons with Norwich and remains the club’s record-holder for promotions, having made 263 appearances. He is now back in Norway, coaching at Rosenborg, another former club of his, where he had a brief spell as interim first-team manager earlier this year.
The Canaries legend noted that Norwegian fans are both “buzzing” and “calm and chilled” as their team has already exceeded expectations by reaching the World Cup quarter-finals for the first time. Photo notes from matches show Tettey (right) challenging England’s Ashley Young during a Norway-friendly at Wembley in 2012.
Beyond the headlines from this campaign, there are more stories from Norfolk surrounding the individual journeys and the evolving dynamics of the World Cup showpiece. Anglian Water’s hosepipe ban reminds readers of the driest UK region’s ongoing concerns, while a night shelter’s summer closure due to funding gaps underscores social issues still at play back home. Meanwhile, Premier Inn’s planned demolition to improve city aesthetics reflects the broader urban development narrative.
In the global football ranking, England sit fourth in the FIFA rankings, while Norway sit 19th, but the outcomes on the pitch this weekend remain uncertain. Tettey stressed that predicting the winner will be tricky, given the game’s tactical complexity. “It’s going to be a different kind of game than the one against Brazil,” he told BBC Radio Norfolk’s sports editor Phil Daley. He highlighted several tactical questions facing both sides: Can England stop Haaland? Can England prevent Martin Odegaard from dictating play? Can Norway restrain Kane from creating chances and also limit Jude Bellingham’s runs through the box? He emphasized that these are the dimensions that will shape the match and that both teams will be trying to exploit different strategic angles in a game that promises to be meticulous and fiercely contested.