appConfigEntityId

bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

isVideo

articlePageQuery

article

articleSchemaContent

content

hooksArticlePageAdvertisementConfigArticle

hooksArticlePageFloatingButtonConfigArticle

appConfig

filter

json

liveArticle

Paul McNamara

Norway talisman Erling Haaland has tried to turn up the heat on England before the teams’ World Cup quarter-final clash on Sunday, claiming that “every single pressure” is on the Three Lions to end their 60-year major trophy drought.
Haaland has scored seven goals in his four appearances in the United States, including the double that ousted Brazil in the round of 16.
Born in England when his dad, Alf Inge Haaland, was playing for Leeds United, the centre-forward acknowledged that it was “quite surprising” to find himself still in the tournament, having last year given Norway a 0.5 per cent chance of becoming world champions.
Conversely, he rates England as one of the “clear favourites” to lift the trophy in New Jersey this month.
“I think all of you should put every single pressure on the English lads,” Haaland told reporters at Inter Miami CF Stadium.
Haaland, 25, could potentially find himself in direct confrontation in Miami with an England back four that features three of his Manchester City teammates in Marc Guehi, John Stones and Nico O’Reilly, albeit with central defender Guehi racing to overcome a hamstring issue.
The 32-year-old Stones is in the frame to start after Fifa imposed a two-match ban on Jarrell Quansah following the right-back’s dismissal in England’s last-16 win over Mexico.
“I think, for me, it’s a super special [game] because I play in England and I was born in England, and you also play against teammates and everything,” Haaland said. “It’s a bit … not weird, but it’s a funny game and it’s going to be nice.”
If Haaland viewed Norway’s World Cup run as “not normal”, given they last qualified in 1998 and had never won a knockout match before this summer, England, the 1966 champions, are in familiar territory, having been semi-finalists in 2018 and quarter-finalists four years later.
They were runners-up in the past two European Championships as well.

“We’ve been here a few times but the best team on the day is going to be the team that wins, so we’re aware of that and that’s where our focus is,” said Bukayo Saka, who has been managing an Achilles issue and started for just the second time in the tournament against Mexico.
Forward Saka, 24, acknowledged that the ban for Quansah was “incredibly frustrating”, but he said the togetherness forged as England repelled a Mexican siege in their crazy 3-2 Azteca Stadium victory allowed them to manage any setbacks.
“The spirit is high and became even higher after that game,” Saka said. “It was just an amazing night for us as a camp. We need to take that spirit into the game against Norway.”
Assuming he gets the nod to start, Saka will come up against his Arsenal teammate Martin Odegaard, the Norway captain who has been outstanding in North America.
“He’s been great … not just him, his teammates, too,” Saka said. “We’ll focus on them as a collective, because they’re in good form, and they’ve been good in this tournament. But we know our strengths and we’re focused on winning the game.”
O’Reilly was equally bullish about the prospect of stopping Haaland.

“We all know what he’s like,” the left-back said. “He can score goals, he’s dangerous in the box and he’s a real threat. But they need to get the ball there first.”
The England pair were speaking at Swope Soccer Village, the squad’s Kansas City base, before Friday’s three-hour flight to Miami where temperatures are expected to exceed 34 degrees Celsius (93 degrees Fahrenheit) with high humidity on match day.
“Up to now we’ve played in cool conditions but we’re ready for it,” the 21-year-old O’Reilly said. “We did our pre-tournament camp over there, so I think we’ll acclimatise well to the weather.”
France beat Morocco 2-0 on Friday, courtesy of Kylian Mbappe’s eighth goal of the finals, and an Ousmane Dembele strike, to secure the first semi-final spot.
Belgium will meet Spain in the second quarter-final at 3am on Saturday, Hong Kong time.


Fok fudges but Hong Kong football chiefs appear ready to make Gianni Infantino their man

Fifa president Gianni Infantino makes an appearance at Under-20 Women’s World Cup

A house divided: Asia still split on Infantino’s future, HKFA won’t say where loyalties lie

Singapore to host Brazil, Japan, Paraguay in star-studded football festival

Fifa

Fifa World Cup: Erling Haaland begins psychological warfare as Norway take on England

Erling Haaland trains with his Norway teammates in Miami before Sunday’s World Cup quarter-final against England. Photo: AP Photo

Erling Haaland orchestrates the Norwegian celebrations after their shock win over Brazil. Photo: Xinhua

Nico O’Reilly breaks free from Gilberto Mora during England’s victory over Mexico. Photo: AFP

Fifa World Cup: Belgium’s reason to believe against Spain in Los Angeles blockbuster

Thibaut Courtois, here in jubilant mood during Belgium’s trouncing of the USA, believes his team can spring a ‘huge upset’ against Spain. Photo: Xinhua

The grounded Youri Tielemans gets ready to be mobbed after his penalty winner against Senegal. Photo: Getty Images

Fifa World Cup: Dimitar Berbatov explains why Lionel Messi outdid Cristiano Ronaldo

Harry Kane roars with delight after scoring a penalty in England’s 3-2 last-16 World Cup victory over Mexico. Photo: AP Photo

Dimitar Berbatov at Happy Valley Racecourse for the JC Youth Football Academy Summit launch. Photo: Elson Li

Lionel Messi celebrates with teammates after his eighth goal of the finals helped beat Egypt. Photo: Getty Images

Sport

Football

Striker adamant pressure all on Three Lions for Miami quarter-final clash, says it is ‘super special’ to face country of birth


Striker adamant pressure all on Three Lions for Miami quarter-final clash, says it is ‘super special’ to face country of birth.


Fifa World Cup 2026

Erling Haaland

Fifa World Cup: Erling Haaland begins psychological warfare as Norway take on England

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Striker adamant pressure all on Three Lions for Miami quarter-final clash, says it is ‘super special’ to face country of birth

Striker adamant pressure all on Three Lions for Miami quarter-final clash, says it is ‘super special’ to face country of birth