Miami set to host Norway versus England World Cup quarter-final
Norway and England are preparing to face each other in a World Cup quarter-final match in Miami. Both teams secured impressive victories in their respective round of 16 fixtures. This marks England‘s eleventh appearance in the quarter-finals of this tournament, a figure surpassed only by Brazil and Germany, each with fourteen. For Norway, this stage of the competition is a new milestone, as they have never before reached the quarter-finals.
Ståle Solbakken‘s Norway side has been described as a “dark horse” in the tournament. They advanced from a challenging Group I, which was topped by France, before achieving victories against Côte d’Ivoire and five-time champions Brazil to reach the last eight. Many players on Solbakken‘s roster have experience playing against England‘s top club teams at the Premier League level.
Thomas Tuchel‘s England team had a challenging path through the World Cup prior to their recent success. However, their hard-fought win in Mexico City is considered one of the country’s most significant at a major tournament. This victory has fostered a sense of belief within the squad that they can potentially secure a second star for their jersey.
Tactical Approaches and Key Players
While Norway‘s victory over Brazil was notable, England‘s triumph in Mexico City has been highlighted as particularly significant. Tuchel has reportedly built upon the team unity established by Sir Gareth Southgate, with post-match locker room scenes indicating a cohesive squad confident in their ability to progress further.
England is not expected to underestimate Norway, acknowledging the threat posed by players such as Erling Haaland, who has a knack for creating scoring opportunities. Solbakken‘s team is also known for its effective pressing and clear ball possession, drawing comparisons to Kasper Hjulmand‘s Denmark but with a standout striker.
One tactical focus for England will be to limit Haaland‘s involvement. If he receives the ball in dangerous areas, he is known for his clinical finishing. Norway‘s patient build-up play, as demonstrated in their win against Brazil, often involves using wingers effectively, particularly on the left side. The team’s long-standing coach, Ståle Solbakken, has been with the team for over six years, which is seen as a factor in their consistent performance.
Haaland‘s movement within the penalty box is also a key aspect of his play, as he can quickly move out of a defender’s line of sight before making an explosive dart. He possesses a range of finishing techniques, including one-touch shots and powerful strikes through crowded areas. Despite the focus on Haaland, Norway is not considered a one-man team, with players like Antonio Nusa, Alexander Sørloth, and Oscar Bobb also contributing significantly.
Martin Ødegaard, the Arsenal player, has also showcased his quality throughout the tournament, effectively linking play from midfield to the attack. Norway‘s ability to build from the back and their fluid, progressive midfield create overloads that can challenge opponents. Their wingers are capable dribblers, and their midfielders are known for making runs into the box.
For England, this means their full-backs will need to prevent crosses, with midfielders supporting to close down spaces and disrupt creative play in central areas. Norway often plays with two advanced central midfielders, and Tuchel‘s strategy will likely involve making it difficult for these players to get on the ball. This approach could create transition opportunities for England, particularly for players like Jude Bellingham, who has been in strong form.
Both Bellingham and Harry Kane have been outstanding for England. Kane scored twice against DR Congo, and he and Bellingham combined for all three goals against Mexico. Anthony Gordon and Bukayo Saka also had strong performances against Mexico and will look to build on that. England‘s pace in the back four, combined with their athleticism and physicality, is considered a strength.
Team News and Match Details
Norway‘s team doctor, Ola Sand, has stated that all players are healthy following a sickness bug that affected preparations. This means Solbakken should have his full squad available for selection. Potential starting options out wide include Antonio Nusa and Alexander Sørloth, while Oscar Bobb and Andreas Schjelderup played important roles in the round of 16 victory. Patrick Berg, captain of Bodø/Glimt, has established himself in the midfield alongside Martin Ødegaard and Sander Berge.
Norway predicted lineup vs. England (4-3-3): Nyland; Ryerson, Ajer, Heggem, Wolfe; Berge, Berg, Ødegaard; Sørloth, Haaland, Nusa.
England has some fitness concerns ahead of the match. Marc Guéhi is managing a hamstring strain from the round of 16, and Declan Rice missed training due to illness. However, Reece James is back in action after missing three games with a hamstring issue, though he is unlikely to start. Jarell Quansah is suspended for two games after being sent off against Mexico, leaving Tuchel to choose between Djed Spence and Ezri Konsa at right-back. John Stones and potentially Dan Burn are options at centre-back, depending on Guéhi‘s fitness. Jordan Henderson is out indefinitely with a broken arm.
England predicted lineup vs. Norway (4-2-3-1): Pickford; Konsa, Stones, Guéhi, O’Reilly; Anderson, Rice; Saka, Bellingham, Gordon; Kane.
The match will take place at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, United States, on Saturday, July 11. Kick-off is scheduled for 10 p.m. BST. The referee for the match will be Clément Turpin from France.
Norway manager Ståle Solbakken has acknowledged that England are considered favourites to reach the semi-finals. He stated that while they are favourites, they are not “big, big favourites” and suggested that England might face more pressure. Solbakken also highlighted the presence of Premier League talent in Norway‘s squad, including Arsenal‘s captain Martin Ødegaard and Manchester City forward Erling Haaland.
The Norway boss noted that the match is between Norway and England as teams, rather than solely a contest between Haaland and Kane, despite both being key match-winners for their respective sides. He also praised England‘s performance against Mexico, particularly their ability to cope with setbacks and the quality of players like Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane. Solbakken does not expect Norway to have the same level of possession against England as they did against Brazil, where they had 66.4% possession.
The winner of this quarter-final will advance to face either Argentina or Switzerland in the semi-finals in Atlanta next Wednesday.
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Source: si.com
Reuben Castle is the Sports News Writer at News GB, covering rugby union, golf and boxing with six years of reporting experience. He moved from print into digital sport news. He holds a degree in Journalism from Coventry University and completed an NCTJ diploma. Based in Coventry, he follows the Open Championship and amateur boxing. “Accuracy first; the analysis can follow.”
