Norway striker Erling Haaland says all the pressure is on England leading into their World Cup quarter-final meeting on Saturday, – and with a smile, called on the media to put as much pressure on Thomas Tuchel’s side as possible.
Norway had not competed at a World Cup since 1998, but have reached the final eight for the first time after finishing second in Group I before beating Ivory Coast and Brazil in the knockout stage.
England have reached at least the quarter-finals in the past three men’s World Cups, but have not made the final since winning the competition in 1966.
When asked is all the pressure is on England, Manchester City striker Haaland said: “Yes, definitely.
“I think there’s some clear favourites out there, England’s one of them.”
Speaking to journalists, he added: “I think all of you should put every single pressure on the English lads.
“Yeah, they [England fans] should be confident of progressing, definitely. It’s England.”
Haaland, 25, has scored in each of his past 14 competitive games for Norway, and will look to continue that run against the nation of his birth – he was born in Leeds, during the summer his father Alf-Inge moved from Leeds United to Manchester City – when they meet in Miami on Saturday (22:00 BST).
When Haaland appeared on the cover of Time magazine last year, he said Norway had a 0.5% chance of winning the World Cup.
But seven goals in four appearances for Haaland – including a double to eliminate Brazil in the last 16 – have helped fire Norway to the last eight.
“I didn’t expect it. To be honest, to be in the quarter-finals with Norway in the World Cup is quite surprising even for me,” he added.
“Playing against Brazil was kind of crazy for us Norwegians and to win against Brazil and then go and play England in the quarter-finals in the World Cup in the USA is quite special.
“It’s difficult to take everything in because you need to kind of just play the game like it’s a training session.
“I think if you watch the scenes back in Norway, this is not normal for Norway to be, so it’s super special.”
Haaland’s popularity in the US has surged during the tournament, partly because of his personality and off-field exploits, as well as his goals.
Just hours after scoring the winner in the last 32 against Ivory Coast, Haaland went shopping in Dallas for cowboy hats and boots.
He filmed the trip for his YouTube channel, and the video gained more than six million views in five days.
“It’s a good thing because I like the Americans, I think they are kind of hilarious as well. They are funny, so I like the way they are,” he said.
“I think it’s just good. Honestly on every single thing with the World Cup so far here it has been amazing. From the games to the stadiums, everything has been amazing.
“The training ground where we train has been amazing, so I’m super happy and it’s been impressive.”
Other videos show him attending the Stanley Cup final in North Carolina and leading his team-mates in the Viking row after beating Brazil.
“I like to joke a little bit and I like to have fun,” he said. “I think that’s a key to for my daily life to joke around and of course train good, of course focus well and prepare well but you also need to joke around and you need to enjoy the moment.
“That’s what we’ve been doing now and just as we play in the World Cup, we have to enjoy it because nothing lasts forever. We have to just enjoy while we’re here.”