Erling Haaland has placed all the pressure on the England national team in the lead-up to the much-anticipated quarter-final clash at the World Cup between Norway and England. The Norwegian forward, who has been one of the standout players of the tournament, seized the opportunity to spice up the encounter by stating that all expectations rest on the English side.
Haaland has already scored seven goals in four matches at this World Cup, having netted twice in the victory over Brazil in the round of 16 last Sunday. Norway, returning to this stage of the competition for the first time since 1998, is experiencing a historic moment, but their goal scorer chose to place the favoritism on their opponents. When asked if all the pressure is on the English team, Haaland succinctly replied: “Yes.” When pressed to say if Norway could take advantage of that, the forward reiterated: “Yes, definitely.”
Despite the surprising journey of the Nordics, Haaland did not hide that he still sees few chances for his national team to lift the trophy. “Very low still,” said the Norwegian player. “I think there are some clear favorites, and England is one of them, so I think all of you should put all the pressure on the English boys.” All of this was said with Haaland's usual cheeky smile, who also took the opportunity to revive the famous phrase “Stay humble” — directed at Mikel Arteta, after a draw between Manchester City and Arsenal in September 2024. When asked if English fans should remain humble, Haaland replied: “I think everyone should stay humble, but they should be confident that they will move forward, definitely.”
During Norway's training in Fort Lauderdale on Thursday, Haaland maintained a relaxed tone, even when discussing the United States. “The Americans are kind of hilarious,” he commented with laughter, although he admitted that the team's success and his personal performance have been surprising. “I didn't expect this at all,” confessed the 25-year-old forward. “Even before the first game, I didn't expect it, and I still don't expect it now. To be honest, being in the quarter-finals of the World Cup with Norway is quite surprising, even for me.”
Haaland also highlighted the historical significance of eliminating Brazil and now facing England in a World Cup held in the U.S. “Playing against Brazil was somewhat crazy for us Norwegians, and beating Brazil, then going on to play against England in the quarter-finals in the United States, is something very special. If you see the images in Norway, this is not normal for us.”
Son of Alf-Inge Haaland, Erling was born in Leeds during his father's time playing at Elland Road, which adds personal significance to the match. “It's a special game, definitely,” he stated. “For me, it's super special because I play in England, I was born in England, and I'm going to face teammates and all that. So, it's a game that's a bit… not strange, but funny and it's going to be beautiful.”
The Norwegian forward also assured that the entire team is in good physical condition, downplaying reports of an alleged outbreak of illness within the group. For Haaland, the secret has been simple: “It is essential in my life to train well, focus, and prepare, but it is also important to enjoy the moment, and that is what we have been doing. While playing in the World Cup, we just have to make the most of it because nothing lasts forever, and we have to enjoy it while we are here.”
Norway heads into this clash with high morale and no confirmed absences, ready to try for another surprise against powerful England.
O MUNDIAL 2026 VIVE-SE COM A LEGO
YOU CAN NOW FOLLOW THE WORLD CUP WITH ALL THE INFORMATION – HERE
Discover more from Apito Final
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
