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England have a team that stands in their way of a place in the 2026 World Cup semi-finals, and that team, while talented as a group, includes a speedy 6-foot-4 giant in contention for the Golden Boot.
After beating Mexico in a thriller last weekend, the Three Lions advanced to three consecutive World Cup quarter-finals for the first time in almost 60 years (1962-1970). Now the only thing stopping them from making the semi-finals is Erling Haaland and Norway on Saturday in Miami.
Former England defender Warren Barton, who is now a FOX Sports World Cup match analyst, was impressed with how his team handled Mexico at the Mexico City Stadium, also known as the Azteca Stadium – against a home field advantage. But the Three Lions must build on their success in the round of 16 to keep the dream of returning home alive.
“It’s a game I’m really looking forward to,” Barton told us recently. “I’m not too confident, but I’m pretty confident. And he’s not coming home yet, but it might be on the plane. We don’t know.”
Barton predicts a 2-0 victory for England, but he knows it won’t be easy. Here are his three keys to England beating Norway in the World Cup quarter-finals.
1.
This one is a no-brainer, considering Haaland accounts for seven of Norway’s 11 World Cup goals in this tournament. But it’s crucial.
“The most important thing they need to do is keep Haaland quiet,” Barton said. “It’s an obvious statement, but he only needs half a chance. So in terms of what England do with the ball – and [Martin] Ødegaard did well – I just think we are really, really good against him. “
Haaland is barely behind Argentina’s Lionel Messi and France’s Kylian Mbappé in the race for the Golden Boot, as they have both scored eight goals each. (However, Argentina has yet to play its quarterfinal match against Switzerland on Saturday, while France advanced to the semifinals with a victory against Morocco.)
From Barton’s defensive point of view, he said that if England players could press Haaland a little on the pitch and rely on him not to run behind them, they would be in a strong position. However, they will have to ensure that there is always a body on him.
“You have to put pressure on him and not allow them to pass the ball to him,” Barton said. “There will be times when they have the ball, make them go straight. Don’t sit back and invite them to gain possession and move forward, so it can get closer and closer to the goal. I think we need to keep it high. Have a high line and play a high line and make them play straight.”
2. 
Let Kane and Bellingham cook
Again, this may be obvious, but it is still essential to success. Kane and Bellingham are England’s top World Cup scorers in this tournament and have accounted for 10 of the team’s 11 goals so far. Kane has six and is not far from the Golden Boot favorites.
And while Norway will certainly look to stifle England’s top duo, allowing their scoring chances and capitalizing on their chemistry will go a long way, Barton said.
“I think they both came to this tournament with the intention of proving how great they were,” he said.
“Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham – probably more than any combination in this tournament – complement each other really well. … I just think those two really led the way. And when your forwards lead the way, it’s so much easier for the other nine players behind them to follow them, and do it.
“I can’t really think of a duo – Ødegaard and Haaland, maybe – but just that they change races, they help each other, they’re selfless, they respect each other. So I just think they’re really a remarkable combination.”
The Three Lions have another advantage over Norway, in Barton’s mind, with significant depth from a large number of players competing at a high level. He noted that Norway have the ability to rely on their bench at times, but it is not as effective as England’s.
“You manage your substitutions and your player minutes, and that’s where England [has] maybe I had a bigger advantage than Norway in terms of depth,” added Barton.
“They’re signing players, there’s not much drop-off. When you look at some nations, they’re making a lot of changes… for injuries, for suspensions, for key players who don’t have the quality to come and play at that level – like France do, and I think England do too.”
3.
Beat Mexico In Mexico City is no small feat. But after the way England rallied to victory, they must maintain the “unity and spirit” of that victory while building on the built-up confidence.
“The way they deepened their relations with Mexico [and] all the elements – not just altitude, but fans and sending [of Jarell Quansah]“, the referee, and everything that goes with it, with the game being played away, showed a lot of character,” Barton said.
(Photo by Charlotte Wilson/Getty Images)
Knowing the players well certainly helps too, he added, particularly Manchester City teammates Haaland and Marc Guéhi.
“So I think they’re going into this game with a lot of, a lot of confidence,” Barton added, “not just because of [the Mexico] result, but also, they performed very well against Norway.
