Erling Haaland believes England enters Saturday's World Cup quarterfinal as the clear favorite and insists the pressure rests entirely on Thomas Tuchel's side. Speaking ahead of the meeting in Miami, the Norway striker even encouraged journalists to increase expectations surrounding England, saying their supporters should naturally expect the team to reach the semi-finals.
Norway has already exceeded many expectations by reaching the last eight for the first time after finishing second in Group I and eliminating both Ivory Coast and Brazil in the knockout rounds. England, meanwhile, have reached at least the quarter-finals at each of the last three men's World Cups but have not appeared in a final since lifting the trophy in 1966.
Haaland admitted he had not anticipated Norway progressing this far, describing a quarter-final appearance as surprising even from his own perspective. He said victories over Brazil and the opportunity to face England on the World Cup stage represented a remarkable achievement for Norwegian football, adding that the celebrations back home showed how unusual such success is for the country.
Goals and personality capture attention
The 25-year-old has scored in each of Norway's last 14 competitive matches and heads into the England clash after netting seven goals in four World Cup appearances, including two against Brazil in the Round of 16. Born in Leeds during his father Alf-Inge's move from Leeds United to Manchester City, Haaland will now face the country of his birth.
Reflecting on his comments to Time magazine last year, when he estimated Norway's chances of winning the World Cup at just 0.5%, Haaland acknowledged that the team's run has surpassed his expectations. He said the key has been treating every match with the same mentality while also appreciating the significance of the occasion.
The Manchester City striker has also become one of the tournament's most popular personalities in the United States. Shortly after scoring the winner against Ivory Coast, he visited Dallas to buy cowboy hats and boots, documenting the trip for his YouTube channel, where the video attracted more than six million views in five days. He also expressed his admiration for American fans and praised every aspect of the tournament, from the stadiums to the training facilities.
England expect stern examination
Haaland explained that enjoying the experience is an important part of his approach, saying he likes to joke with teammates while maintaining complete focus on training and preparation. He believes players should embrace every moment because opportunities like a World Cup do not last forever.
England defender Nico O'Reilly suggested Haaland's remarks about the favourites could simply be psychological tactics. While acknowledging the striker's quality in front of goal, O'Reilly stressed that Norway are dangerous throughout the team and said England would need to be ready for a difficult contest.
Assistant coach Anthony Barry echoed that opinion, insisting Norway deserve their place in the quarter-finals after defeating strong opponents. He highlighted their threat from set pieces, the quality across the attacking line, and the influence of Martin Odegaard, adding that England have full respect for their opponents and are concentrating entirely on the challenge ahead.