Miami: Norway’s Erling Haaland says pressure is on England ahead of World Cup quarter-final

By Sanjay Menon — 9 July 2026 — 5 min read

Haaland’s Perspective on Pressure and Progress

Norway striker Erling Haaland has stated that the pressure for their upcoming World Cup quarter-final match on Saturday is squarely on England. Haaland, who plays for Manchester City, encouraged the media to intensify the pressure on Thomas Tuchel’s side. This sentiment comes as Norway prepares to face England in Miami, a significant achievement for a team that had not participated in a World Cup since 1998.

Norway secured their place in the final eight after finishing second in Group I and subsequently defeating Ivory Coast and Brazil in the knockout stages. England, on the other hand, 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 whether all the pressure was on England, Haaland responded, “Yes, definitely.” He further identified England as one of the clear favourites in the tournament. Speaking to journalists, he added, “I think all of you should put every single pressure on the English lads.” Haaland believes that England fans “should be confident of progressing, definitely. It’s England.”

The 25-year-old striker has been in exceptional form, scoring in each of his past 14 competitive games 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.

Haaland admitted his surprise at Norway’s deep run in the tournament. “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,” he said. He described playing against Brazil and then England in the quarter-finals in the USA as “quite special.”

His popularity in the US has grown during the tournament, attributed to his personality, off-field activities, and goal-scoring prowess. After eliminating Ivory Coast, Haaland was seen shopping for cowboy hats and boots in Dallas, a trip he documented for his YouTube channel, which garnered over six million views in five days. He has also been seen attending the Stanley Cup final and leading his teammates in a ‘Viking row’ celebration after their win against Brazil.

Manchester City teammate Nico O’Reilly, a 21-year-old left-back for England, suggested Haaland’s comments might be “mind games.” O’Reilly, who is expected to start against Norway, acknowledged Norway as a strong team. “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.”

England assistant Anthony Barry echoed O’Reilly’s sentiments, emphasising that Norway is not a one-man team. “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 stated. He highlighted that Norway’s captain is a Premier League winner, and the team has beaten strong opponents to reach this stage. “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.”

Historical Context of Norway vs. England

The upcoming match carries historical weight, particularly for Norway, due to a memorable encounter in 1981. On 9 September 1981, Norway defeated England 2-1 in a World Cup qualifier, a victory immortalised by the Norwegian radio commentator Bjørge Lillelien’s enthusiastic commentary.

Lillelien’s commentary, which included a direct message to then-Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, has become a significant part of Norwegian folklore. He famously declared, “We have beaten England! England, the birthplace of giants!” before listing prominent British figures and concluding with, “Your boys took a hell of a beating!”

At the time, England had experienced a challenging period, with losses to Switzerland, Scotland, Spain, and Brazil earlier in 1981, and draws against Wales and Romania. Despite this, England held a special place in Norwegian football culture.

Since November 1969, the Norwegian public broadcaster NRK had been broadcasting live matches from the English first division during the winter months, when Norwegian football was on hiatus. This exposure led to a deep connection between Norwegians and English football.

Øyvind Alsaker, who will commentate on Saturday’s match for Norwegian broadcaster TV2, was part of the first generation that grew up watching these televised games. He noted how children would “run outside and pretend to be Keegan and Toshack and all of these heroes.” This early exposure fostered emotional attachments to various English clubs among Norwegians.

Gabriel Høyland, Erling Haaland’s great uncle and a former Norway international, is a dedicated Burnley supporter. Similarly, Kasper Wikestad, who commentated on Norway’s recent win against Brazil, is a Norwich fan. Wikestad described England as his “footballing nirvana,” appreciating the atmosphere, sounds, and chants from the stands. “It was our promised land. It felt so close, but at the same time so far away.”

In 1981, the Norwegian national team had not qualified for a major tournament since the 1938 Olympics. Wikestad reflected on the perception of England at the time: “England were our idols and our reference point. For Norwegians at that time, England and English football was like a dream.” He added that the idea of beating England in a qualifying match was “a totally unrealistic dream.”

Lillelien, known for making “boring games fun,” became increasingly animated as Norway held onto their 2-1 lead against England. He criticised English player Phil Neal, calling him “a pig” for a tackle on Tom Lund. As the final whistle approached, Lillelien expressed impatience with the referee, Jerzy Kacprzak, before erupting in celebration when the game concluded. “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 highlighted that “three generations of Norwegians who have received English football intravenously.” He expressed the significance of commentating on this match, stating that it feels “unreal” to be playing for a spot among the top four teams at a World Cup. “Norway-England, of all things. A week ago, we thought that it couldn’t get bigger than Norway-Brazil, but there you go.” For Norwegians, no opponent on the football pitch holds more meaning than England. The quarter-final match is scheduled for Saturday in Miami.

Source: bbc.com