Every team facing Norway always prepares a strategy to tame or even paralyze their striker, Erling Haaland.
That's also what England coach Thomas Tuchel has in mind when the Three Lions meet Norway in the 2026 World Cup quarter-finals at Miami Stadium, Florida, United States.
Norway is not just Haaland because they still have great players like Martin Odegaard, Sander Berge, Orjan Nyland and others, but Haaland is Norway's main goal factor that kills the opponent's game.
Fifty-eight percent of Norway's 12 goals and 33 percent of the goal-scoring chances created by Stale Solbakken's team during the 2026 World Cup came from Haaland's feet and head.
Furthermore, Norway has not lost a match since losing 1-2 to Austria in the UEFA Nations League on September 4, 2020, when Haaland played for them.
On the other hand, like when they were beaten 1-4 by France in the group stage, Norway could have lost if Haaland hadn't played.
Haaland is truly the most clinical pure striker in the world, possessing a fantastic ability to combine lethal finishing with precision. His speed, keen reading of the game, and keen awareness of creating shooting space are simply brilliant.
At 1.95 meters tall and weighing 94 kg, Haaland is too difficult for any player to defend. He can also run at a devastating pace that opponents find difficult to keep up with.
Haaland is also incredibly efficient. Rather than being involved in the build-up, he meticulously orchestrates his movements and energy, only to find decisive moments that often go unnoticed by his defenders.
His brain works as hard and as fast as he can run and make decisions. He doesn't waste time on the ball or touching it.
Most of his chances and goals come from a single touch, when opponents haven't yet noticed how he handles the ball. Interestingly, he often converts even the smallest of chances into team-deciding goals.
Imagine, 17 of the total 18 goal chances he created during the 2026 World Cup so far have come from just one direct touch.
