SportFootballErling Braut HaalandEngland will come up against Erling Haaland's Norway in Miami on Saturday with a place in the World Cup semi-finals on the line, and the Manchester City striker is happy for his country to be underdogs18:57, 09 Jul 2026Erling Haaland makes England strong favourites against Norway - and insists all the pressure is on Thomas Tuchel's Three Lions. The Manchester City striker is relishing his duel club team-mate Marc Guehi and potentially close friend John Stones in Miami as he attempts to outgun Harry Kane.‌He said when asked if Norway were underdogs: "Yeah, definitely. I think everyone should stay humble, but they have a right to be confident about progressing."‌Haaland also claimed Norway's chances of going the distance at the tournament - something which he rated at 25 per cent pre-tournament - were slim despite a series of eye-catching scalps, not least the elimination of Brazil. He explained: "Really low still [chances of winning the World Cup].‌"There are some clear favourites out there, and England is one of them. All of you should put every single bit of pressure on the English lads. It's a special game, definitely.Get the latest World Cup 2026 news in your inbox with our Make Football Great Again newsletter"For me, it's super special because I play in England and was born in England. Facing team-mates makes it a funny game, but it's going to be nice."‌The 25-year-old has rattled in a whopping seven goals thus far and he's hoping to add to that tally in Florida. However, for Haaland, making Norwegians proud is a far bigger motive than hitting the back of the net.He continued: "I enjoy so many things. Playing against Brazil was crazy for us Norwegians. To win that match and then play England in a World Cup quarter-final in the USA is quite special.How can England stop Erling Haaland? Have your say in the comments section.‌"If you look at the scenes back home, this is not normal for Norway. It's super special. Just being able to play in the World Cup is a huge honour and a massive career goal for me. Being here, playing on the biggest stage with my Norwegian friends against the best teams in the world, is really special."Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.Article continues belowContent cannot be displayed without consentChoose Daily Mirror as a 'Preferred Source' on Google News for quick access to the news you value.‌Erling Braut HaalandEngland football teamWorld Cup 2026