Norway striker Erling Haaland has stated that the pressure leading into their World Cup quarter-final match on Saturday is entirely on England. He also encouraged the media to intensify this pressure on Thomas Tuchel’s squad.
Norway, who had not participated in a World Cup since 1998, has now reached the final eight for the first time. Their journey included finishing second in Group I and then defeating Ivory Coast and Brazil in the knockout stages.
England has consistently reached at least the quarter-finals in the last three men’s World Cups but has not made it to the final since their victory in 1966.
When questioned about the pressure, Haaland, a Manchester City striker, affirmed, “Yes, definitely. I think there’s some clear favourites out there, England’s one of them.” He further advised journalists, “I think all of you should put every single pressure on the English lads.”
Haaland, who is 25, has scored in each of his last 14 competitive matches for Norway. He aims to continue this impressive run against the country of his birth, as he was born in Leeds when his father, Alf-Inge, transferred from Leeds United to Manchester City. The quarter-final match will take place in Miami on Saturday.
Last year, when Haaland was featured on the cover of Time magazine, he estimated Norway’s chances of winning the World Cup at 0.5%. However, his seven goals in four appearances, including a double that eliminated Brazil in the last 16, have propelled Norway into the last eight.
“I didn’t expect it. To be honest, to be in the quarter-finals with Norway in the World Cup is quite surprising even for me,” Haaland admitted. He described playing against Brazil as “kind of crazy” for Norwegians and noted that facing England in the quarter-finals in the USA is “quite special.”
He added, “It’s difficult to take everything in because you need to kind of just play the game like it’s a training session. I think if you watch the scenes back in Norway, this is not normal for Norway to be, so it’s super special.”
Haaland’s popularity in the US has significantly increased during the tournament, attributed to his personality, off-field activities, and goal-scoring prowess. Shortly after scoring the winning goal against Ivory Coast in the last 32, Haaland was seen shopping for cowboy hats and boots in Dallas. A video of this trip on his YouTube channel garnered over six million views within five days.
“It’s a good thing because I like the Americans, I think they are kind of hilarious as well. They are funny, so I like the way they are,” he commented. He praised the World Cup experience in the USA, stating, “Honestly on every single thing with the World Cup so far here it has been amazing. From the games to the stadiums, everything has been amazing.”
Other videos show him attending the Stanley Cup final in North Carolina and leading his teammates in the Viking row celebration after their victory over Brazil. “I like to joke a little bit and I like to have fun,” he said, emphasizing the importance of enjoying the moment.
Historical Context of Norway vs. England
The upcoming match carries historical significance, particularly for Norway. On 9 September 1981, Norway famously defeated England 2-1 in a World Cup qualifier. This victory was immortalized by Norwegian radio commentator Bjørge Lillelien’s passionate commentary, which has since become legendary in Norwegian folklore.
Lillelien’s commentary included a triumphant declaration: “We have beaten England! England, the birthplace of giants!” He then listed prominent English figures, concluding with the memorable line, “Maggie Thatcher, can you hear me? I have a message for you… As they say in the boxing bars around Madison Square Garden in New York: your boys took a hell of a beating! Your boys took a hell of a beating!”
At the time, England had experienced several losses and draws against various national teams in 1981 and the preceding year. However, for Norwegians, England held a special place in their footballing affections, largely due to the Norwegian public broadcaster NRK showing live matches from the English first division since November 1969.
Øyvind Alsaker, who will be commentating on Saturday’s quarter-final for Norwegian broadcaster TV2, recalls growing up with these televised games. “You would run outside and pretend to be Keegan and Toshack and all of these heroes,” he said. This exposure led many Norwegians to develop strong emotional ties to English clubs.
Kasper Wikestad, who commentated on Norway’s recent win against Brazil, described England and English football as a “dream” for Norwegians. “It was the sound, the smell, the stars; it was the atmosphere, it was the chants from the stands,” he explained. “It was our promised land. It felt so close, but at the same time so far away.”
The Norwegian national team had not participated in a major tournament since the 1938 Olympics before this recent success. Wikestad noted that for Norwegians at the time, the idea of beating England in a qualifying match was “a totally unrealistic dream.”
Lillelien, known for making even dull games exciting, became particularly animated during the 1981 match. He criticized England’s Phil Neal, calling him “a pig” for a tackle on Tom Lund. As the final whistle approached, Lillelien expressed frustration with the referee, Jerzy Kacprzak, before erupting in celebration when Norway’s 2-1 victory was confirmed, declaring, “Norway have beaten England 2-1 at football! We are the best in the world!”
Today, the fascination with English football continues in Norway, with many young Norwegians aspiring to play in England. Alsaker, reflecting on the current situation, expressed the unreality of Norway’s progress. “It feels unreal that this is happening. I was thinking that reaching the round of 16 was just fantastic. And now we are playing for being one of the top four teams at a World Cup. It’s wild.” He added that for Norwegians, no opponent means more than England.
Team-mate’s Perspective and England’s Preparation
Haaland’s Manchester City teammate, Nico O’Reilly, suggested that Haaland’s comments about England being favorites could be “mind games.” O’Reilly, a 21-year-old who made his first-team debut less than two years ago and is now England’s starting left-back, is expected to face Haaland in the quarter-final.
O’Reilly acknowledged Norway’s strength, stating, “But look, they’re a good team as well. They have shown it through the whole tournament. It’s not just certain players we have to worry about – they’re good collectively. It’s going to be a good game and good battle.”
Aware of Haaland’s goal-scoring ability, O’Reilly commented, “Erling is Erling. We all know what he is like. He can score goals and is dangerous in the box. He is a real threat. They need to get him the ball. A lot goes into it.”
England assistant coach Anthony Barry echoed O’Reilly’s sentiment that Norway is not solely reliant on one player. He noted, “They’re excellent at set-pieces, they have other threats, the frontline is full of threats, playing in some of the biggest teams in Europe.” Barry also mentioned that Norway’s captain, Odegaard, is a Premier League winner.
Barry emphasized Norway’s deserved presence in the quarter-finals: “It’s no shock and there’s no fluke at this stage of the tournament – whoever’s in the last eight with us deserves it, and they have our full respect.” He confirmed England’s preparation, stating, “We’re prepared for the game. As I said, focus on Norway, and it’s step one of three.”
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Source: bbc.com
