Erling Haaland has declared England the strong favourites for their World Cup quarter-final clash in Miami on Saturday, insisting all the pressure is on Thomas Tuchel's Three Lions. The Manchester City striker is relishing his duel with club team-mate Marc Guehi and potentially close friend John Stones as he attempts to outgun Harry Kane.
Haaland Embraces Underdog Status
When asked if Norway were underdogs, Haaland replied: "Yeah, definitely. I think everyone should stay humble, but they have a right to be confident about progressing." The 25-year-old also played down Norway's chances of winning the tournament, rating them at just 25 per cent pre-tournament and saying they remain "really low" despite eliminating Brazil. "There are some clear favourites out there, and England is one of them. All of you should put every single bit of pressure on the English lads," he added.
Personal Significance and National Pride
Haaland, who was born in England, described the match as "super special" because he plays in the Premier League and faces team-mates. "It's a funny game, but it's going to be nice," he said. The striker has scored seven goals in the tournament so far and hopes to add to that tally in Florida, but he stressed that making Norwegians proud is a bigger motive than personal glory. "If you look at the scenes back home, this is not normal for Norway. It's super special. Just being able to play in the World Cup is a huge honour and a massive career goal for me," he explained.
Norway's Journey and England's Challenge
Norway have reached the quarter-finals after a series of impressive results, including the elimination of Brazil. Haaland reflected on the achievement: "Playing against Brazil was crazy for us Norwegians. To win that match and then play England in a World Cup quarter-final in the USA is quite special." England, under Thomas Tuchel, will need to contain Haaland's prolific form to secure a semi-final berth.
