England left-back Nico O'Reilly has dismissed Erling Haaland's assertion that the Three Lions are the 'clear favourites' to win their World Cup quarter-final against Norway, labelling the Manchester City striker's comments as 'mind games'.
Haaland's pre-match comments
Speaking ahead of Saturday's clash in Miami, Haaland insisted that Norway's chances of lifting the trophy were 'still really low' and urged the media to put 'every single pressure on the English lads'. The Norway captain, who has scored seven goals in four World Cup appearances—one more than England's Harry Kane and just one behind tournament leaders Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi—acknowledged the significance of the occasion for his nation.
'It's a special game and super special for me because I play in England and I was born in England, and I'm playing against team-mates. It's fun,' Haaland told reporters. 'To be able to be here and play on the biggest stage with my Norwegian friends against the best teams in the world is really special.'
He added: 'If you watch the scenes back home, this is not normal for Norway. To be honest, to be in quarter-finals with Norway in the World Cup, it's quite surprising even for me.'
O'Reilly's response
When asked about Haaland's remarks, O'Reilly was quick to see through the striker's humility. 'Yeah, mind games,' the England defender replied. 'But they're a good team as well. They've showed that throughout the whole tournament. It's not just certain players that we need to worry about. They're good collectively, and it's going to be a good game.'
O'Reilly, who plays alongside Haaland at Manchester City, acknowledged the threat posed by his club teammate. 'Erling's Erling. We all know what he's like. He can score goals. He's dangerous in the box, and he's a real threat. But they need to get him the ball in first. A lot goes into it. I think keeping Erling quiet gives us a real chance to win the game. We know the threat he can cause—unbelievable striker, world class and he showed that throughout the tournament, scoring every game he's played in.'
England's defensive concerns
Keeping Haaland quiet will be a significant challenge for England, especially given the selection issues facing head coach Thomas Tuchel in defence. Jarrel Quansah will serve the first of a two-match ban after being sent off against Mexico in the previous round. It remains uncertain whether Reece James has recovered sufficiently from a hamstring injury to start. Declan Rice is isolating from the squad due to a sickness bug, while Marc Guehi is likely to miss out after suffering a hamstring injury.
However, some believe the enforced changes could prove beneficial. Newcastle United's towering centre-back Dan Burn, who boasts an impressive record against the physically imposing Haaland, is seen by some as a potential starter.
Norway's tournament run
Norway have exceeded expectations at the World Cup, most notably defeating Brazil 2-1 in their last match to secure a quarter-final berth. Haaland's seven goals have been instrumental in their run, and the team's collective strength has been praised by O'Reilly. The match in Miami promises to be a tightly contested affair, with both sides aiming for a place in the semi-finals.
