Miami: Norway’s Erling Haaland says pressure is on England before World Cup quarter-final
Norway striker Erling Haaland has stated that the pressure leading into their World Cup quarter-final match on Saturday is entirely on England. Haaland, who plays for Manchester City, encouraged the media to intensify this pressure on Thomas Tuchel‘s side.
Norway has advanced to the quarter-finals for the first time, having not participated in a World Cup since 1998. Their journey to the final eight included finishing second in Group I and then securing victories against Ivory Coast and Brazil in the knockout stages. In contrast, England has consistently reached at least the quarter-finals in the last three men’s World Cups, though they have not reached the final since their victory in 1966.
When asked about the pressure, Haaland affirmed, “Yes, definitely. I think there’s some clear favourites out there, England’s one of them.” He further suggested to journalists, “I think all of you should put every single pressure on the English lads.” Haaland also noted that England fans “should be confident of progressing, definitely. It’s England.”
Haaland’s Unexpected World Cup Journey
Haaland, who was born in Leeds, will face the nation of his birth in Miami on Saturday. He has maintained a scoring streak, finding the net in each of his last 14 competitive games for Norway. Last year, Haaland had estimated Norway’s chances of winning the World Cup at 0.5%. However, his performance, including seven goals in four appearances and a double against Brazil in the last 16, has been instrumental in Norway reaching this stage.
Haaland expressed surprise at his team’s progress, stating, “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.” He described the experience of playing Brazil and then England in the World Cup in the USA as “quite special.” He also noted the significant reaction in Norway, remarking, “If you watch the scenes back in Norway, this is not normal for Norway to be, so it’s super special.”
His popularity in the US has grown during the tournament, attributed to both his on-field achievements and his off-field personality. After scoring the winning goal against Ivory Coast in the last 32, Haaland was seen shopping for cowboy hats and boots in Dallas, a trip he documented for his YouTube channel, which garnered over six million views in five days. Other videos show him attending the Stanley Cup final and leading his teammates in a ‘Viking row’ celebration after defeating Brazil.
Haaland shared his enjoyment of the experience, saying, “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.” He added, “That’s what we’ve been doing now and just as we play in the World Cup, we have to enjoy it because nothing lasts forever. We have to just enjoy while we’re here.”
Nico O’Reilly, Haaland’s Manchester City teammate and England’s starting left-back, is expected to play against Norway. When asked about Haaland’s comments regarding England being favourites, O’Reilly suggested they “could be mind games.” He acknowledged Norway as a strong collective unit, stating, “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 is well aware of Haaland’s finishing ability, 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, emphasising that Norway is not a one-man team. Barry highlighted Norway’s proficiency at set-pieces and their formidable frontline, noting that players like Odegaard are Premier League winners and captains. He 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.”
Historical Context of Norway vs. England
The upcoming match carries historical significance, particularly for Norwegians. An iconic moment in Norwegian football history dates back to 9 September 1981, when Norway defeated England 2-1 in a World Cup qualifier. This victory was famously immortalised by Norwegian radio commentator Bjørge Lillelien, whose ecstatic and memorable commentary has achieved cult status. Lillelien’s rant included listing prominent British figures, declaring they had all been “beaten by Norway,” and directly addressing Maggie Thatcher with the line, “Your boys took a hell of a beating!”
At the time, England’s footballing standing in Norway was immense. Since November 1969, the Norwegian public broadcaster NRK had been showing live matches from the English first division, a practice that deeply embedded English football into Norwegian culture. With only one television channel available, English football became a staple for many Norwegian households during the winter months. Øyvind Alsaker, who will commentate on Saturday’s match for Norwegian broadcaster TV2, recalls growing up pretending to be English football heroes like Kevin Keegan and John Toshack.
Despite England’s challenging period in 1981, and Norway’s own struggles, the victory was monumental. As Kasper Wikestad, a commentator for NRK, reflected, “England were our idols and our reference point. For Norwegians at that time, England and English football was like a dream. How good England were, how big the stars were, everything to do with England was huge. The idea that we could beat England at football in a qualifying match, it was a totally unrealistic dream.” Lillelien’s commentary during that match was particularly animated, culminating in his declaration, “Norway have beaten England 2-1 at football! We are the best in the world!”
Today, the fascination with English football continues in Norway, with many young players aspiring to play in England. Alsaker noted, “We now have three generations of Norwegians who have received English football intravenously.” He described the upcoming quarter-final as “unreal,” especially after their win against Brazil. He concluded that for Norwegians, no opponent holds more significance on the football pitch than England.
The World Cup quarter-final between England and Norway is scheduled to take place in Miami on Saturday.
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Source: bbc.co.uk
Nathan Crowley is the Sports News Writer at NewsUK, covering rugby union, golf and boxing with six years of reporting experience. He moved from regional newspapers into digital sport. He holds a degree in Journalism from Cardiff University and completed an NCTJ diploma. Based in Cardiff, he plays amateur rugby and follows the Six Nations closely. “Speed and accuracy are not a trade-off in sport news.”
