How Thomas Tuchel has re-focused England for Norway showdown | OneFootball

Three Lions took a while to come down from thrilling Mexico win

Now it is upon them, England must appreciate what a phenomenal opportunity awaits them in Miami Gardens.

Thomas Tuchel took the job of head coach thrilled by the prospect of leading England into some of the biggest nights the football calendar can provide: the Azteca, quarter-finals, semi-finals, finals.

But he was also motivated by his insatiable appetite for winning, for testing his knockout-specialist reputation in the international game. And facing a nation competing in the first major tournament quarter-final in their history is a test Tuchel would have bitten your hand off for at the beginning of this World Cup. It is a wonderful chance for England to progress, and one they must not pass up.

To say as much is not to diminish their opponents’ achievement in getting this far, nor to suggest they aren’t entirely capable of causing an upset. Clearly, they are. This is a sparkling generation of Norwegian players who have belatedly qualified for a first major tournament since Euro 2000 and are rowing the crest of that wave, led from the front by the gargantuan figure of Erling Haaland but also buoyed by a fervent travelling support. One fan told Standard Sport yesterday that he had spent £1,600 on his match ticket and flown out from Norway especially for this one game. “I simply had to be here”.

England will have done their homework on Haaland — the Manchester City scoring machine who can spring into life in an instant, as Brazil found out the hard way six days ago. But there are plenty more threats besides.

One fan has spent £1,600 on his match ticket and flown out from Norway especially for this game

Antonio Nusa, Alexander Sorloth, Sander Berge and Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard were all namechecked by Ezri Konsa, even if it is hard to look past the subplot of a fascinating battle between two of the world’s very best strikers. Haaland versus Harry Kane. 13 goals between them at this World Cup. Konsa says he is looking forward to “witnessing greatness”.

Tuchel has been handed a touch of good luck on the eve of the match and can name as close as possible to the starting line-up he most desires. Marc Guehi, Reece James and Declan Rice were doubts a few days ago but all trained at Inter Miami’s training complex with the rest of the squad on Friday and are available. Norway’s preparation has been disrupted by a sickness bug sweeping through the camp, though that has been clearing in the days approaching tonight’s quarter-final.

One player definitely not involved — and also excluded from England’s semi-final, if they get that far — is Bayer Leverkusen’s Jarell Quansah, whose one-game ban was extended to two by FIFA following a red card for “serious foul play” in the instant classic against Mexico that got them here in the first place.

England’s win at Estadio Azteca was a moment that almost stood still, their finest win since 1966 — an emotional night so seismic it has been hard for the players to refocus this week and get ready to go again.

Tuchel sensed this and sat his squad down on Wednesday morning at their team hotel, The Inn at Meadowbrook in Kansas City. He told his players that their victory against Mexico had been fantastic, but that it was now in the past. Tuchel urged this players to reset and prepare diligently for the challenges Norway pose. The conversation followed two days off (one in recovery and one with no training), and Tuchel’s approach is understood to have gone down well with the players.

Thomas Tuchel addresses the media on Friday

PA

With France and Spain already into the semi-finals after wins against Morocco and Belgium, England will be the third team to head into their quarter-final as favourites expected to find a way. The temperature will be sweltering — as high as 33C but with humidity that could make it feel like 44C — yet that expectation is not going away. They are the quarter-final regulars, facing rookies.

England supporters will hope to be treated to a performance that excites, but any win would satisfy. For neutrals, though, a Haaland versus Kane battle, with both strikers on the scoresheet in a straight striker shootout of who can outscore the other: that would be the dream scenario.

Asked who is better on the eve of this quarter-final, Kane smiled and replied: “It is impossible for me to answer.

“I know we are both considered strikers, but we are almost completely different positions,” he explained.

“Erling is incredible. His goalscoring record speaks for itself. Physically, he is a machine, a beast. And his finishing is on the highest level. I know I score the same [number of] goals, I like to think I maybe touch the ball a little bit more. But I don’t compare ourselves.”

There will be no option but to compare and contrast when they meet in national team colours for the first time in Miami. The stage is set for one of them to produce a showstopper. How Tuchel and England hope it is the right No9.