Brutal reality facing champion striker if he knocks out England
Erling Haaland faces a hostile reception from Premier League fans if he helps Norway knock England out of the World Cup, says former Socceroo Robbie Slater.
The Norwegians are gearing up for their first World Cup last-eight appearance and coach Stale Solbakken urged his players not to be overawed by the occasion when they face Thomas Tuchel’s England side on Sunday morning AEST.
Erling Haaland delivered for Norway in their win over Brazil. Getty
Haaland has collected seven goals in the four matches he’s played this tournament, putting him one behind Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe in the Golden Boot race. He played the hero by scoring both goals in Norway’s 2-1 stunner over Brazil.
Speaking on Stan Sport’s Added Time, Slater said England fans will most certainly target the Manchester City striker if he’s responsible for their demise.
“Haaland plays in England, if he scores two and knocks England out, he’s got to go back and play in the Premier League and you know what those English fans are like.
“He is going to get booed everywhere. We know his character, he can take it. But that’s the funny side to this situation.
“He is the Premier League’s top striker. ‘The Viking King’, if we can put it like that, up against this Kane and some teammates. It’ll be dramatic.”
Haaland and the Norway team are not ones to beat around the bush. They have captured Americans’ attention with their blunt honesty at times during this World Cup, starting when Haaland said France will “probably beat us” ahead of their group-stage finale.
The Vikings’ title chances are “really low, still,” Haaland said at a recent training. “I think there’s some clear favourites out there. England’s one of them. I think all of you (reporters) should put every single pressure on the English lads.”
Whether humility, a bit of reverse psychology or a tactic to deflect attention to England, Norway are emphatic about their position as the underdogs.
England, though, carry the burden of a people who live and die by their football. The Three Lions have not placed better than fourth since winning their only World Cup title 60 years ago.
As a member of Manchester City and England, Nico O’Reilly is plenty familiar with his club teammate, Haaland.
“Yeah, mind games,” O’Reilly said of Haaland’s claims. “Erling’s Erling. We all know what he’s like. He can score goals. He’s dangerous in the box, and he’s a real threat. But they need to get him the ball in first. A lot goes into it. I think keeping Erling quiet gives us a real chance to win the game.”
England’s Jude Bellingham celebrates with teammate Harry Kane. AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko
Not far behind Haaland in the Golden Boot Stakes is Kane, in fourth spot with six goals.
The English captain converted the eventual game-winning penalty kick after assisting one of Jude Bellingham’s two goals in a 3-2 take down of Mexico.
Bellingham also goes into the match with a yellow card, knowing one more will rule him out of the next game.
England won’t have central defender Jarell Quansah for the quarter-finals or a potential semi-final after he was shown a red card for a studs-up sliding tackle against Mexico and received a two-match ban from FIFA.
“I think England are going to win,” Slater added. “I just think around the park they’ve got too much quality.
“Defence is a bit of a problem. We know about right fullback, but I think they’ll have enough.
“Harry Kane, it’s probably his last World Cup and quite a few others in there as well.
“You know when you’re watching England that it’s going to be tough. It’s always tough being an English fan, and of course, they’ll be singing in the pubs, “It’s coming home”, and we know how that’s ended, really, nothing since ’66.”
The winner will face either Argentina or Switzerland in the semis Thursday AEST in Atlanta.
