FIFA World Cup 2026

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Silencing hotshot Haaland vital, says England’s O’Reilly​

AFP
July 11, 2026



KANSAS CITY: England’s Bukayo Saka (L) and Nico O’Reilly arrive to speak to media before a training session at the Swope Soccer Village.—AFP

KANSAS CITY: Keeping Erling Haaland quiet would be “huge” but the Norwegian juggernaut is not the only threat to England in their World Cup quarter-final, Manchester City team-mate Nico O’Reilly said on Thursday.

Haaland has been at his rampaging best at the 2026 tournament, scoring seven goals to fire his team into the quarter-finals for the first time.

There will be plenty of club connections across the pitch in Miami on Saturday, with Haaland likely coming up against O’Reilly and centre-back Marc Guehi.

Arsenal are also well represented, with Norway captain Martin Odegaard potentially facing Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka.

Thomas Tuchel’s men reached the last eight after a captivating backs-to-the-wall win against co-hosts Mexico, during which they were reduced to 10 men when defender Jarell Quansah was sent off.

 

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Artificial turf & coaching revolution - how Norway shaped golden generation​

With their efforts at the World Cup, Norway look like a nation pulling in the same direction

Ciaran Varley
BBC Sport journalist

Norway - a country with a population almost the same size as Scotland - have become a football powerhouse at the World Cup and it's not just down to Erling Haaland.

The Manchester City striker, who has seven goals under his belt at the tournament, is the poster boy for the side along with Martin Odegaard, who captains both Arsenal and the national team.

However, they are not the only successful products of the Norwegian youth system. Of their 26-man World Cup squad, 17 play in Europe's top four leagues - the Premier League, Bundesliga, La Liga and Serie A.

The majority were mentored in Norway's national youth football training system, the National Team School (NTS), which was established in 2013.

The comparison with Scotland is not favourable to the latter. While both countries are similar in size, there is a growing gulf in football terms.

 

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How do England stop Norway - and Haaland?​

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Erling Haaland has scored seven goals so far at the World Cup
Umir Irfan
Football tactics correspondent
10 July 2026

Norway may have been touted by many as this World Cup's dark horse, but their impressive progress still feels like they have exceeded expectations.

Since finishing second in Group I, above Senegal, they have knocked out Ivory Coast and Brazil, scoring 12 goals across five games.

Now they face England who are tasked with nullifying a strong Norway side spearheaded by star striker Erling Haaland.

So, what do Norway do best and what might England boss Thomas Tuchel look to tweak in order to see his side through to the final four of the World Cup?

The Haaland–Nyland dilemma​

Norway boast attacking variety with Stale Solbakken's men fluctuating between wanting to hold on to the ball and being able to attack quickly.

This is all downstream from their build-up play.

From goal-kicks, Orjan Nyland's distribution has been excellent. Norway's first instinct is to play short, often setting up with a wide back four and the keeper forming a fifth option, with two holding midfielders showing for the ball centrally.

With so many players deep, Norway often have an overload at the back making progressing up the pitch easier.

When short options are not viable, Nyland's get-out-of-jail-free card is 6ft 5in Alexander Sorloth who Norway play on the right wing as a wide targetman for long diagonal balls.

Long balls to Sorloth on the right wing is a common pattern to look out for when Norway play

This is something England left-back Nico O'Reilly will have to be alert to, but, given his 6ft 4in height and frame, this is a far more even match-up than Norway have experienced so far.