Ezri Konsa, the only defender to start every one of England's World Cup matches this summer, has a simple message for the Norwegian fans expecting Erling Haaland to run riot in Miami: don't count on it.
With Marc Guehi managing hamstring tightness, the Aston Villa centre-back is likely to be tasked with keeping the Manchester City striker quiet when the teams meet in the quarter-finals. Konsa, 28, has won three of his last four encounters with Haaland — and the prolific forward has fired blanks in all four.
“Ezri Konsa backs himself to stop Erling Haaland as England face Norway in World Cup quarter-final.”
“It is going to be a test,” Konsa told BBC Sport. “I think every game is a test. We all know Haaland's qualities and what he can do in front of goal but I have full belief, full confidence in the defence. As long as we stay 100 per cent focused, I'm sure we'll be all right.”
When pushed on Aston Villa's exceptional recent record against Stale Solbakken's powerhouse centre-forward, Konsa added: “No secret. I really do believe in myself, in my abilities and what I can do as a defender. I think as long as we as defenders believe that we can go into that game thinking we won't give him a yard or go into that pitch knowing that you're going to stop him from scoring, I think as defenders that's the only way to go about it in games, not just this game but in every game that you play.”
The Three Lions have their work cut out to limit the impact of one of the world's most feared strikers, but Konsa's confidence — and his recent record — offers England a real chance of progression. For now, he insists, the only way is belief.
