England hit back at Erling Haaland 'mind games' before Norway World Cup clash

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Evening Standard

10 July 2026

Three Lions unfazed by superstar striker’s antics before huge quarter-final contest

Nico O’Reilly has accused

Erling Haaland

of playing “mind games” ahead of

England

’s

World Cup 2026

quarter-final tie against

Norway

Haaland has labelled

, who are bidding to reach their second

World Cup

semi-final in the last three tournaments, as “clear favourites” to beat

when the two teams meet in Miami on Saturday

Norway are breaking new ground after reaching their first-ever

quarter-final following a

shock 2-1 win over Brazil in the last 16

, while

England produced a mammoth performance to beat co-hosts Mexico 3-2

with 10 men at the Estadio Azteca.

The

Three Lions

are wary of Haaland’s goal threat, with the

Manchester City superstar just one behind Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi in the star-studded race for the Golden Boot

Left-back O’Reilly will be tasked with helping to keeping his

City

team-mate in check, but said that

were not focusing on individuals as he praised Norway’s collective strength.

Asked about Haaland’s comments, which saw him insist that all the pressure is on

, O’Reilly said: “Yeah, mind games.

“But they're a good team as well. They've showed that throughout the whole tournament.

Team-mates:

striker

and England’s Nico O’Reilly play together at Manchester City

Getty

“It's not just certain players that we need to worry about. They're good collectively, and it's going to be a good game.”

Haaland, who scored twice late on to propel

to victory over Brazil, is well known within the

camp, with O’Reilly, Marc Guehi and John Stones all team-mates of his at

The 25-year-old has enjoyed a superb debut

, but O’Reilly is adamant that if they can keep Haaland quiet, then

will have a good chance of progressing to the semi-finals.

“Erling's Erling,” he added. “We all know what he's like. He can score goals. He's dangerous in the box, and he's a real threat. But they need to get him the ball in first. A lot goes into it.

“I think keeping Erling quiet gives us a real chance to win the game.

“We know the threat he can cause - unbelievable striker, world-class, and he showed that throughout the tournament, scoring every game he's played in.”

Why England should be SCARED of Norway

The Independent

Haaland insists England are ‘clear favourites’ ahead of quarter-final clash

Hayters TV

“You’re just in awe at how good he is” — Rogers on Haaland threat as England face Norway in World Cup quarter-final

Football Muse

How should England line-up against Norway? Our writers pick their XIs for World Cup quarter-final

England handed ‘great omen’ ahead of Norway clash as plan to stop Haaland ‘revealed’

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