Erling Haaland makes World Cup ‘favourites’ claim before England vs Norway
Haaland Champions England as World Cup Contenders Ahead of Norwegian Clash
Erling Haaland makes World Cup favourites - Erling Haaland has voiced his strong belief that England deserves to be positioned among the leading contenders for World Cup glory. The Manchester City striker emphasized that his teammates should approach their upcoming quarter-final encounter against Norway with genuine self-assurance and optimism.
The tournament has witnessed remarkable performances from both nations. England narrowly defeated Mexico in a dramatic 3-2 victory at the historic Azteca Stadium last Sunday, securing their progression to the knockout stages. Meanwhile, Norway delivered one of the tournament's most stunning results by overcoming Brazil 2-1 in New York, with Haaland scoring both goals to seal the remarkable triumph.
A Star Performer in the Making
Haaland has emerged as one of the tournament's most compelling figures. His seven goals have placed him firmly in contention for the Golden Boot award, putting him level with French superstar Kylian Mbappé and just one goal behind Argentine legend Lionel Messi in the scoring charts.
Despite Norway's impressive campaign this summer, the striker maintains that England should be viewed as favorites to advance to the semi-finals. The English side faces a challenging path ahead, requiring three consecutive victories to claim the title.
I think everyone should stay humble but they should be confident of progressing, definitely.
When questioned about whether English supporters should maintain their composure ahead of the Norwegian fixture, Haaland offered measured advice. He acknowledged the importance of humility while stressing that confidence should characterize England's approach to the crucial match.
Norway's Unexpected Journey
Norway's path to the quarter-finals has been nothing short of extraordinary. Stale Solbakken's squad finished second in Group I behind France, having secured victories against Iraq and Senegal during the group stage. Their knockout campaign featured impressive 2-1 wins over both Ivory Coast and Brazil, setting up this fascinating quarter-final showdown.
I said it plenty of times before – even before the Brazil game I didn't expect, and I didn't expect us to be in the quarter-finals with Norway in the World Cup. It's quite surprising even for me.
When reflecting on Norway's chances of ultimately winning the tournament, Haaland remained realistic. He acknowledged that their prospects remain relatively modest despite their impressive run.
Really low, still.
A Career Highlight
For Haaland personally, this World Cup represents something truly special. He expressed deep appreciation for the opportunity to compete on football's grandest stage alongside his Norwegian teammates against the world's elite nations.
First of all, just to be able to play in the World Cup is just an honour and a huge goal for me in my career.
To be able to be here and play on the biggest stage with my Norwegian friends against the best teams in the world is really special.
The victory over Brazil held particular significance for Norwegian football. Haaland described the experience as almost surreal, noting that such achievements remain uncommon for his nation on the international stage.
Playing Brazil was kind of crazy for us Norwegians and to win against Brazil and to go and play England in the quarter-finals in the World Cup in the USA is quite special.
I think if you watch the scenes back in Norway [you can see] it's not normal for Norway.
The upcoming quarter-final promises to be a compelling contest between two teams on contrasting trajectories. While England carries the weight of expectation as tournament favorites, Norway arrives with momentum and the confidence of having overcome formidable opposition. Haaland's comments suggest he respects both teams while maintaining faith in England's superior chances of ultimate success.