Ahead of the World Cup quarter-finals, Haaland said all the pressure was on England.

The 2026 World Cup quarter-final will feature a clash between England and Norway. Norwegian striker Erling Haaland, in a pre-match interview, proactively escalated the psychological warfare, stating that England is the one bearing all the pressure.

At this World Cup, 25-year-old Haaland has been in red-hot form, scoring seven goals in four matches and helping Norway reach the quarterfinals for the first time since 1998. However, before the match against England, he deliberately lowered expectations for Norway.

When asked if all the pressure was on England, Haaland replied, "Yes." He then smiled and said, "I think there are some obvious favorites out there, and England is one of them, so I think all of you should put every bit of pressure on the England lads."

Despite Norway's recent excellent performance, and Haaland even humorously referencing his famous quote about humility, he remains clear-headed. Speaking about Norway's advancement, Haaland admitted it surprised even himself: "Honestly, I'm quite surprised that Norway has reached the World Cup quarterfinals."

"For us Norwegians, beating Brazil and then facing England in the quarterfinals in the United States is very special."

Erling Haaland, born in Leeds, England, said this match is special for him because he will be facing many of his club teammates. However, he emphasized that the Norwegian team is currently fully healthy and will enjoy this World Cup journey with a relaxed mindset.

Image source: Internet/BBC official website