Erling Haaland: England told surprise tactic to stop Norway star in World Cup quarter-final

England manager Thomas Tuchel could see a astonishment antiaircraft maneuver to halt Erling Haaland successful Saturday's World Cup 2026 quarter-final, a erstwhile Manchester City defender has exclusively told Sports Mole.

The Three Lions' reward for edging retired Mexico successful a 3-2 epic is simply a Miami conflict with Brazil's conquerors, who eliminated the five-time champions successful the past 16 courtesy of Haaland's sixth and seventh goals of the World Cup.

The Golden Boot hopeful comfortably bushed on-field rival Gabriel Magalhaes successful the aerial to motion successful Norway's first, earlier uncovering the bottommost country with aplomb from extracurricular the container precocious on.

Haaland is already connected 7 goals successful his debut World Cup campaign, and fewer defenders tin stack up to the 6ft 5in striker physically, though England's towering centre-back Dan Burn is an exception.

The Newcastle United antheral was hailed for his show disconnected the seat against Mexico, successful which helium made six clearances and 2 blocks, portion John Stones besides played his portion arsenic a substitute with 5 clearances of his own.

The England backmost 4 that could halt Erling Haaland

With Jarell Quansah suspended, Reece James a fittingness uncertainty and Djed Spence lone conscionable backmost from his ain injury, Richard Dunne has suggested that Stones, Burn, Ezri Konsa and Marc Guehi could each commencement unneurotic against Norway.

"You could play each 4 of them," Dunne said. "Maybe that would springiness you a accidental due to the fact that it's a pugnacious ask. Marc Guehi volition cognize him wrong out. Konsa's played against him an atrocious lot. The 2 lads volition cognize him.

"It's conscionable astir avoiding being stuck successful situations wherever you're one-v-one against him due to the fact that he's truthful good. The centre-halves person done each close for England. They haven't been hopeless oregon wholly terrible.

"It's conscionable that England are looking astatine a level wherever their beforehand enactment and midfield is world-class. Maybe the centre-halves aren't rather there, but they haven't been unspeakable by immoderate means."

Konsa oregon Stones could capable successful astatine right-back, while Burn has acquisition playing left-back astatine Newcastle, but Nico O'Reilly is inactive expected to get the motion astatine the Hard Rock Stadium.

Erling Haaland vs. Harry Kane: Who is better?

Saturday's quarter-final volition bring unneurotic 2 of the astir prolific World Cup 2026 scorers truthful far, arsenic Haaland lines up connected the other extremity to England's six-goal skipper Harry Kane.

The second has go England's all-time starring World Cup scorer astatine the existent tournament, but if Dunne was forced to prime conscionable 1 fig nine, helium would broadside with the Scandinavian.

"I'm going to accidental Haaland," Dunne replied. "He's conscionable unplayable astatine times. If a accidental drops successful the box, the 2 of them are some scoring. Kane tin astir apt bash a small spot much successful build-up play and is much progressive successful games successful general.

"But arsenic an out-and-out striker, a fig nine, idiosyncratic you wouldn't similar to mark, I deliberation it's Haaland due to the fact that he's got ridiculous speed, is physically truly strong, and his question is fantastic."

Haaland and Kane person lone ever faced each different doubly before, some meetings coming successful the 2022-23 Premier League season, erstwhile the Norwegian netted erstwhile successful a 4-2 Man City location triumph earlier Kane's victor successful a 1-0 Spurs victory.

Richard Dunne was speaking to Sports Mole connected behalf of William Hill - Jude Bellingham World Cup 2026 goals.