England meet Norway in Miami on Saturday in a quarter-final built around two of the tournament’s most lethal forwards, Harry Kane and Erling Haaland.
Kane has carried England through a testing run, including a 3-2 win over Mexico despite playing much of the match a man down, and arrives with six goals to his name. Haaland has been even more prolific, scoring seven as Norway reached the last eight for the first time in their history, a run that included eliminating Brazil.
Norway coach Stale Solbakken called it the biggest game in the country’s football history for the third time this tournament, while Kane was quick to play down comparisons with his fellow frontman.
“I see myself as a different player, although I score the same goals,” Kane said, adding that he hoped Haaland would have a quiet afternoon despite rating him as a top professional. England received a boost with Declan Rice, Marc Guehi and Reece James all back in training, a return Thomas Tuchel described as “the best news” ahead of a match forecast to be played in temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius.
Argentina, meanwhile, face Switzerland in Kansas City as they chase a first back to back World Cup title since Brazil in 1962. Their route to the quarter-finals has grown increasingly nervy, needing extra time to see off Cape Verde before a stunning fightback against Egypt.
Lionel Messi, who turned 39 during the group stage, has repeatedly bailed his side out and arrives already the tournament’s all time leading scorer. Scaloni acknowledged the threat posed by Granit Xhaka’s well drilled Swiss side, calling them tough opponents with plenty of experience.
Both quarter-finals follow Spain’s dramatic 2-1 win over Belgium on Friday, settled by a Mikel Merino strike after a goalkeeping error from Senne Lammens. Spain, who had gone the whole tournament without conceding before that match, now face France in Arlington on Tuesday, a tie Spain coach Luis de la Fuente described as “a final before the final.”
– AFP
Photo: REUTERS/Claudia Greco
