Alan Shearer has confidently predicted that England will beat Norway 2-1 in the World Cup quarter-final, naming Harry Kane and Anthony Gordon as the goal-scorers. The former Newcastle striker, speaking to Betfair, emphasized that the key to victory will be neutralizing Norway's star striker Erling Haaland, who has scored seven goals in the tournament so far.
Shearer's Prediction and Key Threats
Shearer stated: "That's the big question on Saturday; how do we nullify Haaland. I mean, Haaland to Norway is what Kane is to England. So, they'll be asking the same question. How did they stop Harry Kane? Because they'll feel if they stop him, they've got a much better chance of winning and vice versa with Haaland. It's easier said than done."
England progressed to the quarter-finals after a 3-2 victory over Mexico at the Azteca, while Norway defeated Brazil in New Jersey. Thomas Tuchel's side are favorites with bookmakers, but Norway's Haaland remains a major concern.
Confidence in England's Performance
Shearer expressed confidence in England's ability to replicate their performance against Mexico, saying: "I think the performance the other night was what everyone's been waiting for. And I think that's given everyone belief that we can go forward and that we've got a team. With Tuchel's know-how and his knowledge it feels that we can actually do something special."
He added: "I'm not thinking that England are going out. I've got real big confidence that England can get through to the semi-final and beat Norway. I mean, if you said before the tournament we're going to have a World Cup quarterfinal against Norway you would say absolutely thank you very much give us it let's get on with it let's hit it head on and I don't see any reason for us not to get to a semi-final."
Injury Concerns and Lineup
England are sweating on the fitness of Reece James, who has been out with a hamstring problem since the second group game against Ghana. A start on Saturday seems unlikely, with Djed Spence expected to feature at right-back, but James may be fit to feature from the bench.
Shearer's Semi-Final Predictions
Shearer also predicted the other quarter-final outcomes, backing Spain, France, and Argentina to join England in the semi-finals. He said: "So, I'm going for a Spain v France semi-final and an England v Argentina semi-final. Two unbelievable semi-finals. But I think I'm right in saying, that pre-draw, the top four in the world are seeded if they win the top of the group. And the first time they could have met would have been the semi-final. And that's what may happen."
