In the small Norwegian town of Bryne, a mural of a towering figure in a red shirt stares down at the central square, where hundreds will gather to watch the local hero play against England in a World Cup quarter-final. That hero is Erling Haaland, the 6ft 4in Manchester City striker who has scored 62 goals in 54 senior international matches and is widely regarded as one of the most devastating finishers in world football. As Norway prepare to face England in Miami on Saturday, the question on every fan’s mind is: how do you stop a player who has already scored seven goals in this World Cup and has netted an astonishing 73 times this season for club and country?
Haaland was born in Leeds while his father, Alf-Inge Haaland, played for Leeds United, but he grew up in Bryne, a small farming town near Stavanger. It is there that he learned his trade, and the town has embraced him as a local hero. Olinda Haaland, who runs a fabric shop in Bryne and shares the striker’s surname, said: “We all love him so much and he’s doing so much for Bryne.” The mayor of Bryne, Andreas Vollusund, who taught a 10-year-old Haaland, recalled that even then “he was very focused” and said he would become a footballer. Haaland still visits his old haunts, donates football equipment to children, organises reading competitions, and has bought a rare 16th-century book of Viking sagas for the local library. “We are proud of the little boy who has grown into a huge Viking,” Vollusund said.
“Erling Haaland: his rise, stats, tactics, and significance for England's World Cup quarter-final.”
For England, facing Haaland is the central tactical challenge of the quarter-final. Norway have been this tournament’s dark horse, knocking out Ivory Coast and Brazil and scoring 12 goals in five games. Their build-up play is varied: from goal-kicks, goalkeeper Orjan Nyland often plays short, using a wide back four and two holding midfielders to create an overload. When short options are closed, they launch long diagonal balls to the 6ft 5in Alexander Sorloth on the right wing. But the ultimate threat is Haaland in the box. England manager Thomas Tuchel must decide between a man-to-man press, which risks leaving Haaland one-on-one with a defender, or dropping off to block space, which can invite pressure. England captain Harry Kane, asked about comparisons with Haaland, said: “We are completely different players. Erling has been incredible, his goalscoring record, physically he’s a machine, a beast. I like to maybe touch the ball a little bit more and be involved in play.” Kane has six goals in this World Cup, one fewer than Haaland.
The matchup is also a personal one for Kane, who is competing with Haaland, Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi for the Golden Boot. But Kane insisted he does not feel extra pressure: “It’s exciting for all football fans to see us doing well.” For UK readers, the quarter-final is a must-watch clash between two of the world’s best strikers, with England’s hopes of reaching the semi-finals resting on their ability to contain Norway’s star man.
Q: How many goals has Erling Haaland scored for Norway? Haaland has scored 62 goals in 54 senior international matches, an extraordinary record that puts him among the most prolific international strikers in the game.
Q: Where did Erling Haaland grow up? He grew up in Bryne, a small farming town near Stavanger in southern Norway, after being born in Leeds while his father played for Leeds United.
Q: How does Norway’s tactical setup work with Haaland? Norway use a flexible build-up, often playing short from goal-kicks with a numerical overload in defence, and can also go long to target man Alexander Sorloth. Haaland is the main goal threat, often left isolated in space against defenders.
What happens next: England and Norway meet in the World Cup quarter-final on Saturday in Miami. England have injury doubts over defender Marc Guehi and midfielder Declan Rice, but both trained on the eve of the match. Tuchel’s tactical plan for dealing with Haaland will be critical, as will Kane’s ability to match his rival’s goal tally. Norway, riding a wave of confidence, will look to continue their fairytale run.