Norway have every right to feel optimistic after a historic run that has already included a win over Brazil. But if they are looking for the one man who can turn a quarter-final into a nightmare, Alex Tettey has pointed them straight at Harry Kane.
This is not just a former teammate talking up an old colleague for the sake of it. Tettey saw Kane up close during a difficult Norwich City loan spell, when injuries and competition from Grant Holt and Steve Morison limited his chances. Even then, the signs were there. Kane was calm, quiet at training, and already striking the ball with the kind of authority that tends to age very well.
Tettey saw the talent before the rest of the world caught up
Kane’s early Norwich spell is easy to forget now because the striker standing in front of Norway is one of the world’s best. But Tettey’s point is simple: the finishing was there long before the trophies, the reputation and the weight of expectation. He remembered a young player who did not say much, but made noise where it matters most — in front of goal.
And that is why Norway should be worried. Tettey’s warning was not limited to Kane’s eye for goal, either. He said Kane can drop deep and dictate from midfield for Bayern Munich and England, which is a brutal reminder of just how complete he has become. Stop him from scoring and he can still hurt you by pulling England’s attacks together from deeper positions.
Norway cannot afford to think this is only about Kane
Tettey was also clear that England’s threat is not built around one name alone. He pointed to Erling Haaland, Martin Odegaard and Jude Bellingham, asking the obvious question: can England stop Haaland, can Norway stop Kane, and can either side handle all the quality that surrounds them?
That is the uncomfortable truth for Norway. Their belief is growing, their performances have been decent, and Tettey says the squad and the people back home are buzzing. He also insisted they are not afraid of what can happen. Fair enough. But optimism is one thing, and surviving England is another.
England may be a familiar opponent on paper, but Tettey’s remarks make the quarter-final sound exactly as it should: a serious test. Norway have momentum, history and confidence. England, meanwhile, have Harry Kane — and in a game like this, that may be the difference between another proud step forward and a brutal reality check.
