Norway’s Erling Haaland believes the pressure is on England ahead of their World Cup quarter-final clash. The Manchester City striker urges media to intensify s
Norway striker Erling Haaland has stated that the pressure is firmly on England as the two nations prepare for their World Cup quarter-final match in Miami. Haaland, who plays for Manchester City, encouraged the media to place as much pressure as possible on Thomas Tuchel‘s side.
Haaland’s comments come as Norway makes its first appearance in the final eight of a World Cup since 1998. The team secured their spot after finishing second in Group I and then defeating Ivory Coast and Brazil in the knockout stages. England, on the other hand, has reached at least the quarter-finals in the last three men’s World Cups but has not reached the final since their victory in 1966.
When asked if the pressure was on England, Haaland responded, “Yes, definitely. I think there’s some clear favourites out there, England’s one of them.” He further added, “I think all of you should put every single pressure on the English lads. Yeah, they [England fans] should be confident of progressing, definitely. It’s England.”
The 25-year-old striker, born in Leeds, has maintained a scoring streak in his last 14 competitive games for Norway. He will aim to continue this run against the country of his birth in the upcoming match.
Norway’s Unexpected Journey
Erling Haaland expressed his surprise at Norway‘s deep run in the tournament. Last year, he had indicated that Norway had a 0.5% chance of winning the World Cup. However, his performance, including seven goals in four appearances and a double against Brazil in the last 16, has been instrumental in guiding Norway to the quarter-finals.
“I didn’t expect it. To be honest, to be in the quarter-finals with Norway in the World Cup is quite surprising even for me,” Haaland admitted. He described the experience of playing against Brazil and then facing England in the quarter-finals in the USA as “quite special.”
Haaland’s popularity has grown significantly during the tournament, attributed to both his on-field achievements and his off-field persona. Following his winning goal against Ivory Coast in the last 32, he was seen shopping for cowboy hats and boots in Dallas, a trip he documented on his YouTube channel, which garnered millions of views.
He commented on his experience in the USA, saying, “I like the Americans, I think they are kind of hilarious as well. They are funny, so I like the way they are. I think it’s just good. Honestly on every single thing with the World Cup so far here it has been amazing. From the games to the stadiums, everything has been amazing.”
Other videos show Haaland attending the Stanley Cup final and leading his teammates in a ‘Viking row’ celebration after defeating Brazil. He emphasized the importance of enjoying these moments, stating, “I like to joke a little bit and I like to have fun. I think that’s a key to for my daily life to joke around and of course train good, of course focus well and prepare well but you also need to joke around and you need to enjoy the moment.”
Historical Context and Teammate Reactions
The upcoming match carries historical weight for Norway. The iconic Norwegian radio commentator Bjørge Lillelien delivered a memorable rant after Norway defeated England 2-1 in a World Cup qualifier on September 9, 1981. Lillelien’s commentary, which included listing prominent British figures and declaring, “Your boys took a hell of a beating!”, has become a part of Norwegian folklore.
At the time, England was a significant footballing reference point for Norway, with many Norwegians growing up watching English football. Øyvind Alsaker, who will commentate on Saturday’s match for Norwegian broadcaster TV2, noted the deep-seated connection: “Norway–England, of all things. A week ago, we thought that it couldn’t get bigger than Norway–Brazil, but there you go.”
Haaland‘s Manchester City teammate, Nico O’Reilly, who is expected to start for England against Norway, suggested that Haaland’s comments about pressure could be “mind games.” O’Reilly, a 21-year-old left-back for England, acknowledged Norway as a strong collective unit, stating, “But look, they’re a good team as well. They have shown it through the whole tournament. It’s not just certain players we have to worry about – they’re good collectively. It’s going to be a good game and good battle.”
O’Reilly also recognized Haaland‘s scoring prowess, remarking, “Erling is Erling. We all know what he is like. He can score goals and is dangerous in the box. He is a real threat. They need to get him the ball. A lot goes into it.”
England assistant Anthony Barry echoed these sentiments, emphasizing that Norway is not solely reliant on one player. He highlighted their strength in set-pieces and their front line, which features players from major European teams, including a Premier League winner and captain. Barry concluded, “It’s no shock and there’s no fluke at this stage of the tournament – whoever’s in the last eight with us deserves it, and they have our full respect. We’re prepared for the game. As I said, focus on Norway, and it’s step one of three.”
The quarter-final match will take place in Miami on Saturday.
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Source: bbc.com
