“Put every bit of pressure on the English lads” – Erling Haaland jokes with journalists ahead of World Cup quarter-final | OneFootball

Erling Haaland jokingly urged journalists to apply as much pressure as possible on England ahead of Norway’s FIFA World Cup quarter-final tie in Miami.

The Manchester City striker has been Norway’s talisman this summer in the United States, Mexico and Canada and has scored seven goals – putting him joint second with Kylian Mbappe behind Lionel Messi, who is on eight. 

In Norway’s previous match against Brazil, Haaland, who has scored 162 goals in 198 games for the Citizens, scored twice inside the final 11 minutes; first scoring a header before slotting a low effort into the bottom corner from the edge of the area.

What is the context of the upcoming quarter-final tie between Norway and England?

Although England fans would have initially been relieved to avoid Brazil, who were knocked out before the quarter-final stage for the first time since 1990, the sheer presence of Haaland makes for a nail-biting matchup on the southeast coast of the States. 

Still, Norway’s probability of winning the entire tournament is below one per cent, a large contrast to England, who are in the conversation to lift their first World Cup title since the glory days of 1966.

And Haaland, who is by far Norway’s greatest chance to progress even further, believes that the majority of the pressure being on England gives his side a huge chance to defy the odds.

Put all the pressure on the English lads, Haaland tells journalists

“Yeah definitely,” Haaland said on Thursday, with comments relayed by Sky Sports. “I think there are some clear favourites out there; England is one of them. I think all of you should put every single (bit of) pressure on the English lads.”

Haaland admitted that he was not expecting Norway to be potentially 90 minutes away from a place in the last four, yet quite the opposite can be said of England, who have improved tenfold since their friendlies late last month against New Zealand and Costa Rica. 

Having won Group I by one point after two wins against Croatia and Panama, accompanied by a goalless draw with Ghana, England faced DR Congo in a closer-than-expected round of 32, where Thomas Tuchel’s side went 1-0 down early on.

How have England fared en route to the FIFA World Cup quarter-final?

Harry Kane scored twice in just over 10 minutes to squeeze England into the last 16, where they faced Mexico in Mexico City at the highly-regarded Azteca Stadium. Jude Bellingham and Kane once more were the heroes on the day. 

Tuchel played the final 20 minutes of regulation, plus around 15 minutes in stoppages, by utilising a low block, where the previous effort of City star Nico O’Reilly, alongside Marc Guehi and former City defender John Stones, was largely to thank for the victory. 

Elliot Anderson, playing his first England game as a City player, performed remarkably and certainly showed glimpses of the £116 million fee that was agreed with Nottingham Forest and the Etihad Stadium club eight days ago.