‘No secret’ that Kane v Haaland the key to England clash, says Norway coach Solbakken

Norway coach Stale Solbakken believes the World Cup quarter-final clash against England will largely be decided by the individual showdown between star strikers Erling Haaland and Harry Kane.

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I think it’s Norway versus England but I don’t think it is a secret that Kane is the match winner number one for England and Haaland is the match winner number one for us.

Haaland has been in exceptional form, netting seven goals in his first four tournament appearances to lead Norway to their first quarter-final in 28 years. Kane is close behind, having scored six goals and bringing his World Cup total to 14, as England aims for a third consecutive quarter-final appearance. "I think it’s Norway versus England but I don’t think it is a secret that Kane is the match winner number one for England and Haaland is the match winner number one for us," Solbakken stated at his pre-match press conference.

Solbakken acknowledged the pressure on England, whose coach Thomas Tuchel was brought in to help a talented generation overcome past tournament disappointments. In contrast, Norway is participating in its first major tournament in 26 years and has surpassed expectations, notably with a stunning 2-1 victory over Brazil, secured by Haaland's late double. "Every game has been the most important (in history) for Norwegian football, especially in the knockout rounds, so this is the third time it is the most important game," Solbakken added.

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Every game has been the most important (in history) for Norwegian football, especially in the knockout rounds, so this is the third time it is the most important game.

Despite the high stakes, Solbakken reported that his players are in a "relaxed but competitive mood." He believes that once the game begins, the pressure will subside as players focus on the 11-versus-11 contest. Norway's journey has captured national attention, with their "Viking row" celebration becoming an iconic image of the tournament and Haaland's global star status soaring. "I think the whole of Norway is looking forward to tomorrow. We’ve had some great nights in this World Cup before and it brings the country together," Solbakken said. He also expressed optimism about Norway's future qualification prospects after this breakthrough tournament.

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I think England has more pressure than us, but we also put pressure on our performance. When the game has started I don’t think the players think so much about the pressure when it’s eleven versus eleven.

The match, scheduled for a 5:00 pm local time kick-off in south Florida, is expected to be played under intense heat and humidity, with temperatures potentially exceeding 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit). Norway's team has trained lightly to ensure freshness for the game, focusing on tactical sessions at a lower tempo.

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I think the whole of Norway is looking forward to tomorrow. We’ve had some great nights in this World Cup before and it brings the country together.