Erling Haaland has put the spotlight on England before Saturday’s World Cup quarterfinal in Miami, saying the English are the favorite and asking journalists to put the pressure on them.
That is a notable message from a Norway team that has already made history in the tournament in Estados Unidos. Norway reached the World Cup quarterfinals for the first time after finishing second in Group I and then eliminating Costa de Marfil and Brasil in the knockout stage.
Haaland embraces the underdog role
Haaland was direct about where he thinks the pressure should sit. He said England is “definitivamente” one of the favorites and added: “Creo que todos ustedes (los periodistas) deberían poner toda la presión a los ingleses.”
He also pointed back to what he said in 2025, when he told Time that Norway had “0,5% de posibilidades” of winning the World Cup and that “Noruega nunca ganará el Mundial.” Even now, he says the task still looks difficult, noting: “Aún muy bajo. Hay algunos favoritos.”
The comments fit the tone of Norway’s run so far. Haaland said he did not expect to be in the quarterfinals and called the moment surprising, even for him. He also described the win over Brasil as “una locura” for Norwegian fans and said that beating Brasil before drawing England in the last eight is something very special.
Why this matchup stands out
The quarterfinal in Miami carries extra weight for Haaland personally as well. He said it is special because he plays in England and was born there, and he also mentioned facing teammates in a match he expects to be fun.
Haaland’s form has been central to Norway’s progress. He has scored siete goles in cuatro partidos, helping drive a run that has made Norway’s presence in the last eight one of the tournament’s biggest surprises.
For Norway, the challenge is straightforward: keep the momentum going against one of the tournament favorites. For England, the challenge is different. Haaland has already tried to shift the narrative and the pressure before the ball is kicked on sábado a las 18:00 in Miami.
