There are a few hours until Norway and England clash in what is a historic match. – Norway has never come this far in a World Cup final, and I can’t remember even the English media before an international match is so afraid to meet us.
All the smart heads on the ball island are trying to figure out how Norway’s machine, monster, robot Erling Haaland can be stopped. Well, here’s the recipe for how to stop Erling Haaland – with one simple tactical twist… and it’s not even about Haaland.
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No team in this summer’s World Cup has found the ingredient needed to stop Haaland.
So far, no one has been able to crack the code on the seemingly unstoppable Erling Haaland.
Haaland, who is currently the tournament’s second-best goalscorer, has netted seven goals in four games for Norway – including a second-half brace in the round of 16 win against Brazil.
It has been a memorable month for the Norwegians, who are in their first World Cup since 1998 – and their saving striker delivers the goods time and time again.
So the question remains: How will England stop one of the world’s most in-form players? According to former Premier League goalkeeper Brad Friedel, it’s not about stopping Haaland per se.
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Friedel believes that keeping captain Martin Ødegaard in check will be key for “The Three Lions” when they are to mitigate the Norwegian attacking threat.
“You can’t just stop Erling Haaland – he doesn’t actually get that many touches during a game. It’s about limiting the service to him,” Friedel says to SPORTbible.
“If you allow the wingers and their full-backs to get into crossing positions, even the best defenders in the world will struggle to prevent Haaland from winning the headers in front of his marker.
“You have to prevent the ball from reaching Haaland at all. Although he can also create chances from nothing – he is exceptionally good at it.
“Martin Ødegaard is the player in Norway who gets the most touches on the ball, so you have to limit Ødegaard’s involvement. But they’re not one-dimensional – they’ve got Antonio Nusa, Oscar Bobb… many threats.
Ødegaard, who failed with only one of 53 passes in the first half against Brazil, can control the tempo of a game from midfield if opponents give him time and space.
Haaland himself does not seem to be particularly close!
At the press conference before Saturday’s match against England, Norway’s national team manager Ståle Solbakken was full of praise for the Arsenal captain.
“In our team, he is irreplaceable,” Solbakken said. “He has never been a classic ten for Norway. He has always been a two-way player who is crucial in all phases.
“He always works hardest, covers the most meters and sprints. He is the trigger. And he decides whether we play 4-1-4-1 in defense or 4-4-2.
Jude Bellingham is compared to one of the greatest of all time before England-Norway
Norway, on the other hand, must also stop Haaland’s former Borussia Dortmund teammate Jude Bellingham – who has been crucial for Thomas Tuchel’s team over the past month.
Friedel believes Bellingham is currently operating at a world-class level.
“Jude Bellingham is right up there among the best I’ve seen. In his movements, he reminds me of Zinedine Zidane. Bellingham is also very good technically in tight spaces,” says the former Liverpool and Blackburn goalkeeper.
“Jude has the ability to play both eights and tens, he works back, can tackle, is good in the air in both boxes and can decisively clear defensively if necessary.
“He covers so much of the pitch – in that way I can compare him to Steven Gerrard.
“Let’s see how Bellingham’s career develops, but he’s on a path to as many trophies as Frank Lampard, Paul Scholes or Gerrard.
