Manchester City full-back Nico O’Reilly is assured England can deal with the specter of Erling Haaland given the squad’s inside data of the Norway striker.
The Three Lions may line-up with three of Haaland’s present or former Metropolis team-mates within the again 4 on Saturday evening when the groups clash in Miami in the World Cup quarter-finals.
Haaland has scored seven objectives in 4 appearances in america, Canada and Mexico, together with two sensible efforts as Stale Solbakken’s aspect overcame Brazil 2-1 within the spherical of 16.
O’Reilly mentioned: ”Erling is Erling. Everyone knows what he’s like. He can rating objectives, he’s harmful within the field and he’s an actual risk.”
O’Reilly will begin at left-back and may very well be joined in defence by Marc Guehi, health allowing, and John Stones, who left the Etihad on the finish of final season.
Guehi is a doubt with a hamstring harm however, if he performs, England can have loads of first-hand expertise of deal with the previous Borussia Dortmund man.
O’Reilly added: “I suppose it performs a component in it and retaining Erling quiet provides us an actual likelihood to win the sport given all of the risk he may cause, unbelievable striker, world-class. He has proven that all through the match, scoring in each recreation he has performed in. However we’re primarily specializing in ourselves and specializing in our recreation slightly than his.”
Haaland mentioned yesterday all of the strain was on England given their standing as favourites however O’Reilly was not keen to chew, replying: “It may very well be thoughts video games. They’re an excellent crew as nicely, they’ve proven that all through the match. It’s not simply sure gamers we have to fear about, they’re good collectively and it’s going to be an excellent recreation, an excellent bout.”
Norway have surpassed expectations in reaching the final eight and their former striker Tore Andre Flo, who had spells in England with Chelsea and Sunderland, feels the sport on the Arduous Rock Stadium represents a free swing for the Scandinavians.
He advised BBC 5 Dwell Breakfast: “Everybody in Norway may be very excited. We’re filled with confidence in the meanwhile and usually are not feeling an excessive amount of strain. It’s a pleasant method of coming into such an enormous recreation for the Norwegians.
“It’s 28 years since Norway had been final on the World Cup so everyone is pleased to be there realizing that we even have an incredible crew with good gamers and gamers who’re filled with confidence and in good type.”
Flo believes stopping Haaland is England’s greatest path to success however isn’t positive how they go about it.
“I don’t suppose that can be very straightforward, you understand, as a result of he’s scoring objectives on a regular basis,” he added.
“Defenders all over the place try to cease him, however he appears to discover a method of scoring regardless of the place or when he performs.
“He’s in very, excellent type. He doesn’t all the time contact the ball that a lot, and he doesn’t must, however he’s very prepared in relation to him.”
England beat Mexico on Sunday evening in dramatic style to safe their place within the final eight however Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka mentioned it’s time to transfer on and focus on what’s to return.
“We mentioned that we have to put the drama and the feelings of the Mexico recreation behind us now,” he mentioned. “We soaked in the entire reward and every thing that got here with it however now we have to deal with Norway which goes to be a troublesome problem.
“We’re absolutely targeted and buzzing that we’re profitable.
“Norway are an excellent crew – they play with confidence and a directness and that’s been working for them to date.”
