Norway vs. England: The record-breaking tactic Thomas Tuchel must avoid in World Cup quarter-final (exclusive)

England should debar deploying the aforesaid tactics they did against Mexico successful their World Cup 2026 quarter-final against Norway connected Saturday, Danny Murphy has exclusively told Sports Mole.

The Three Lions progressed to the past 8 of the Mundial for the 11th clip successful the aboriginal hours of Monday morning, edging retired Mexico 3-2 to inflict El Tri's archetypal decision astatine the Azteca since 2013.

England acceptable a unsocial grounds successful Mexico City, wherever they registered their lowest possession percent successful a World Cup lucifer connected grounds - 33.2% - but thrived connected the counter-attack acknowledgment to the gait of Bukayo Saka, Anthony Gordon and two-goal Jude Bellingham.

Conversely, the Three Lions struggled to drawstring unneurotic likewise scintillating attacking sequences against Ghana, Panama and DR Congo, games successful which they dominated the ball, leaving Thomas Tuchel with an intriguing tactical conundrum for Saturday's game.

However, Murphy believes that England cannot trust connected their counter-attacking crippled astatine the Hard Rock Stadium, arsenic the Norway defence "can beryllium got at" done sustained build-up.

Why England should not repetition Mexico tactics successful Norway quarter-final

"I deliberation England are susceptible of both, which is simply a large presumption to beryllium in, but dominating the shot is ever better," Murphy said. "With the prime we've got successful attacking areas, if you predominate possession, you're going to make much chances.

"I wouldn't privation England getting into a concern wherever they're relying purely connected counter-attacks, though it's large that we've got that quality if we request it. Marcus Rashford, Anthony Gordon, Noni Madueke and Bukayo Saka are each speedy and tin wounded teams successful transition.

"I'd alternatively spot England propulsion up the pitch, predominate the shot and truly effort to unfastened teams up. Against Norway, successful particular, I deliberation determination are opportunities determination because, portion they're good organised and person done brilliantly, I deliberation their backline tin beryllium got at."

Norway are yet to support a cleanable expanse astatine the 2026 World Cup - letting successful 9 goals successful 5 games successful full - and the Scandinavians person conceded astatine slightest erstwhile successful 7 consecutive games since a 0-0 gully with Switzerland successful March.

England person averaged 58.1% possession crossed their 2026 World Cup matches truthful acold - the 10th-most of each 48 teams - portion Norway beryllium 19th successful the possession charts with 53.1%.

England tin halt Erling Haaland with possession dominance

England's accelerated breaks against Mexico whitethorn person proved devastating, but truthful agelong arsenic they person the shot successful Miami, they instrumentality retired the biggest menace Norway have.

Erling Haaland heads to Florida aiming to adhd to his 7 goals successful his debut World Cup, including some strikes successful Norway's 2-1 last-16 triumph implicit Brazil, which has enactment him conscionable 1 down Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe successful the contention for the Golden Boot.

However, if Norway bash not person the ball, Haaland does not person the ball, and nor bash the players who volition beryllium supplying him with the work specified arsenic Martin Odegaard, Antonio Nusa, Oscar Bobb and Andreas Schjelderup.

As Norway's defence has been acold from watertight during the World Cup truthful far, and England are present looking much spritely connected the attacking beforehand - scoring astatine slightest doubly successful 3 consecutive games - simply keeping the shot could spell a agelong mode connected Saturday.

Tuchel present has different crushed to workout caution, arsenic England person been dealt a superior wounded blow earlier the quarter-final.

Danny Murphy was speaking to Sports Mole connected behalf of Betwright football betting.