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England vs Norway build-up
England head into their World Cup quarter-final against Norway in Miami with odds leaning toward the Three Lions, with FOX Sports listing England at -215 to reach the semifinals and Norway at +172.
“They are favourites, but they're not big, big favourites.”
Norway coach Stale Solbakken told BBC Sport that England are favourites to reach the semi-finals, saying: "They are favourites, but they're not big, big favourites."
Solbakken also framed the matchup as a contest between teams rather than individual stars, telling BBC Sport: "it's Norway against England" and pointing to the need to compete and defend properly.
The BBC reported the quarter-final is in Miami on Saturday with a 22:00 BST kick-off, and said the winners will meet Argentina or Switzerland next Wednesday (20:00 BST) in Atlanta for a place in the 19 July showpiece.
In the lead-up, The Mirror said Solbakken insisted Norway believe they can cause an upset, adding that they will have to be at their "very, very best" to go through.
Miami atmosphere and pressure
As the England-Norway quarter-final approaches, the BBC reported Solbakken saying, "I think England have more pressure than us," while adding that Norway also put pressure on their performance.
Solbakken told the BBC that once the game starts, "I don't think the players think about the pressure," and he described the focus as concentrating on the pitch to be themselves.
The BBC also highlighted Norway’s run to the last eight, noting that they knocked out five-time world champions Brazil in the last 16 and that Haaland has scored seven goals during Norway’s historic run.
In parallel, The Mirror described Norway as relishing their role as underdogs and said Solbakken believes the players think they can beat England but must be at their "very, very best".
The Mirror also pointed to Norway’s first major tournament in 26 years and said the team has already upset Brazil, with Erling Haaland scoring seven goals.
Semifinal path and stakes
If England beat Norway, The London Evening Standard said they would take a semi-final spot at the World Cup for the second time in three tournaments, with the next match at Atlanta Stadium on July 15.
“they would next take them the Atlanta Stadium on July 15”
The BBC reported that the winners of Saturday’s quarter-final will meet Argentina or Switzerland next Wednesday (20:00 BST) in Atlanta for a place in the 19 July showpiece.
FOX Sports’ oddsboard also laid out the broader semifinal picture, listing Spain at -340, Argentina at -310, and Switzerland at +240 as nations vying for the final four.
Meanwhile, beIN SPORTS published a semifinal schedule that begins on Tuesday, July 14, with France facing Spain or Belgium, and continues on Wednesday, July 15, with "Norway or England - Argentina or Switzerland".
The BBC also tied the stakes to the tournament’s history, saying Brazil and England are "maybe the two biggest nations we could meet at this World Cup in terms of history," as Solbakken prepared for Miami.
