Norway vs England: How Thomas Tuchel’s side stop Erling Haaland and other threats in World Cup semi-final bid | Football News

Erling Haaland is one of the principle stars of this summer’s World Cup. He is the headline act of Norway’s surprise advances. On Saturday against England in Miami, it’s he they will look to. The leader of vikings.

Much like Harry Kane, Haaland carries a lot of burden for his country. Of the 12 goals Norway have scored so far, seven have been finished by him. That equates to nearly 60 per cent. Across his international career as a whole he is delivering a goal every 71.2 minutes.

And so it would appear that England’s most daunting challenge this weekend is implementing a plan to stop his flow. Damage his momentum. Can you mark such a towering giant out of the game, or must a different, more specialised tactic be applied?

The sight of him besting old foe Gabriel in Norway’s immense 2-1 win over Brazil in the round of 16 should act as a lesson. He won’t be bullied. If the service is good enough, the Manchester City man can make a mockery of any defender, world class or not.

Martin Odegaard is his main provider. England’s disruptors – Declan Rice and Elliot Anderson – must neutralise those passing lanes. The combination of Andreas Schjelderup and Haaland has also been used to good effect, the winger creating three chances for his striker so far. Thomas Tuchel’s tactical structure must account for both.

Getting touch tight is equally important. No player was available in the box more often than Haaland in the Premier League last season. He was able to shake his marker on 35.5 per cent of his runs into the final third, the best among strikers in the division. In transition is where he can really hurt England, especially if afforded space.

In a world of high pressing intensity, Tuchel’s recommended way, Haaland has mastered the art of walking slowly. He feigns disinterest. Then suddenly he’s gone. “He can be anonymous in matches but equally explosive,” says Gary Neville. Forcing him onto his weaker right foot, which only accounts for 11.61 per cent of his 112 Premier League goals, is a smart ploy.

How do England’s preferred centre-back duo, Ezri Konsa and Marc Guehi, match up, then? Well, Konsa has faced the Norwegian twice in the past two seasons and has allowed just four shots; none led to goals. Guehi, while at Crystal Palace, also faced him twice, also allowing four shots, but conceding twice.

Guehi, plus John Stones and Nico O’Reilly of course have the inside track as club-mates. “I know he’ll be up for it. It’s going to be fun,” says Guehi. Perhaps fraught, too. It’s unlikely England will cage him for the entirety of the game, but if they do enough to suppress and stifle, a World Cup semi-final is surely in sight.

Odegaard has quality to control game

Stopping Haaland is the toughest task facing England but they can make it easier by disrupting his supply line. That means getting a handle on Odegaard, who has completed more passes to Haaland at the World Cup than any other player, with 12.

Odegaard has registered three assists during the tournament so far, putting him behind only three players in Michael Olise, Brahim Diaz and Bruno Guimaraes. His total includes the slide-rule pass to set up Haaland’s first goal in the win against Senegal.

A closer look at the numbers suggests he has not in fact been at his best creatively. Odegaard has only created four chances in four appearances in total. But few players are better when it comes to controlling games, as Brazil found out in the last 16.

Carlo Ancelotti’s side had only 34 per cent of the possession during their 2-1 defeat in New Jersey and it had a lot to do with Odegaard, who dictated play throughout, making nearly three times as many passes as any Brazil player and helping Norway dominate.

“Norway surprised us by being able to put so many players behind the ball and keep possession for so long,” said Vinicius Jr after the game. “We couldn’t find the right set-up to press them and that ended up making things very difficult for us.”

England will need to be careful to avoid making the same mistake but the physicality of their midfield should help, with Anderson, Jude Bellingham and Odegaard’s Arsenal team-mate Rice all capable of ensuring he does not get time on the ball.

Nusa, Schjeldrup carry left-sided threat

Norway boss Stale Solbakken has a selection dilemma on the left, with Schjelderup pushing to take Antonio Nusa’s place in the starting line-up. Both players have the capacity to cause problems – especially against a makeshift right-back.

England’s injuries mean the position remains an area of uncertainty and Norway will seek to exploit any potential weakness, with both Nusa and Schjelderup, their two youngest players, having shown their threat during the tournament.

Nusa has started four of Norway’s five games. He is an excellent dribbler and produced an outstanding, curling finish to score in the win over Ivory Coast. Against Brazil, though, his half-time withdrawal for Schjelderup was arguably the catalyst for the victory.

Schjelderup, who plays for Benfica, produced the pinpoint cross for Haaland’s headed opener, then fed him again for his long-range second, taking him to three assists at the tournament so far, the same number as Odegaard despite playing fewer minutes.

Late bloomer Sorloth can cause problems

Alexander Sorloth bounced around Europe in his early 20s and endured a fruitless spell at Crystal Palace but he has flourished since settling in Spain, where he has become a dangerous goalscorer whose physical qualities can unsettle defenders.

Haaland’s presence as Norway’s undisputed No 9 means Sorloth, a striker himself, plays an unconventional role for his country, starting off the right, but he has scored 26 goals in 76 international games and has delivered at the highest level for his clubs too.

He was withdrawn for Oscar Bobb at half-time against Brazil as Solbakken opted for technical skill over physical power in those circumstances, but he may opt to give Sorloth another chance from the start as Norway try to match England’s physicality.