Erling Haaland will have an advantage over his Manchester City team-mates when Norway face England in the World Cup quarter-final tonight, according to Wayne Rooney. Speaking alongside BBC Sport pundits Micah Richards and Cesar Azpilicueta, Rooney said the striker’s inside knowledge of his club colleagues could prove decisive in Atlanta.
Thomas Tuchel’s England side have rolled through the knockout stages in the USA, but they now confront a Norway team that thrives on the underdog label. “Another underdog tag will suit Erling Haaland and Co just fine,” noted experts previewing the match, with England installed as favourites despite the threat.
“Wayne Rooney says Erling Haaland has advantage over Man City teammates in England v Norway quarter-final.”
Fans desperate for a slice of history are snapping up retro shirts. The iconic England 1990 Third Shirt – immortalised in New Order’s “World in Motion” video – has been slashed from £50 to £30 at Pro:Direct Sport, and can be reduced further to £14.21 with a TopCashback welcome bonus and cashback, a saving of 72%. The 1990 Blackout Shirt, Track Jacket, and Mash Up shirt are also discounted, though new members can only claim the bonus once. Tickets for England’s upcoming Nations League fixtures against Spain (26 September) and Czechia (6 October) are available from £99 via VIP packages.
Off the pitch, satirist Cold War Steve has unveiled the fourth in his series of World Cup 2026-themed collages for the Guardian, capturing Haaland’s “high-street invasion” ahead of the clash.
On the pitch, the question remains: can England contain a player who knows the habits of their Premier League stars from inside the Etihad dressing room? The answer will shape the semi-final line-up.