How do England stop Norway - and Haaland?

BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountHomeNewsSportEarthReelWorklifeTravelCultureFutureMusicTVWeatherSoundsMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportEarthReelWorklifeTravelCultureFutureMusicTVWeatherSoundsClose menu BBC SportMenuHomeWorld CupFootballCricketFormula 1Rugby UTennisGolfCyclingAthleticsMoreA-Z SportsAmerican FootballAthleticsBasketballBoxingCricketCyclingDartsDisability SportFootballFormula 1Gaelic GamesGolfGymnasticsHorse RacingMixed Martial ArtsMotorsportNetballOlympic SportsRugby LeagueRugby UnionSnookerSwimmingTennisFull Sports A-ZMore from SportEnglandScotlandWalesNorthern IrelandNews FeedsHelp & FAQsEnglandMen's Scores & FixturesWorld Cup: Knockout PathHow do England stop Norway - and Haaland?Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Erling Haaland has scored seven goals so far at the World Cup Football tactics correspondentPublished2 hours agoNorway may have been touted by many as this World Cup's dark horse but their impressive progress still feels like they have exceeded expectations. After finishing second above Senegal in Group B they knocked out Ivory Coast and Brazil, scoring 12 goals across five games, and now face England who are tasked with nullifying them and star striker Erling Haaland. So, what do Norway do best and what might England boss Thomas Tuchel look to tweak in order to see his side through to the final four of the World Cup? Norway boast attacking variety with Stale Solbakken's men fluctuating between wanting to hold onto the ball and being able to attack quickly. From goal-kicks, Orjan Nyland's distribution has been excellent. Norway's first instinct is to play short, often setting up with a wide back four and the keeper forming a fifth option, with two holding midfielders showing for the ball centrally. With so many players deep, Norway often have an overload at the back making progressing up the pitch easier. When short options are not viable, Nyland's get-out-of-jail-free card is 6ft 5in Alexander Sorloth who Norway play on the right wing as a wide targetman for long diagonal balls. Image caption, Long balls to Sorloth on the right wing is a common pattern to look out for when Norway play This is something England left-back Nico O'Reilly will have to be alert to but given his 6ft 4in height and frame – this is a far more even match-up than Norway have experienced so far. There are a few options but they come with trade-offs, as do all tactical approaches. The most obvious answer is a man-to-man press across the pitch. This is simple. It reduces their numerical advantage and the hope is, if Nyland goes long to Sorloth, O'Reilly is good enough to win the physical battle. The problem is this tactic leaves somebody one against one with Haaland down the middle of the pitch, in space. Most coaches, as a result, would likely want to have a spare man at the back, leaving two defenders around Haaland. Published16 hours agoMexico boss' explicit heckle a bit of fun - Gordon Published8 hours agoHow do you press Norway with two fewer players? England's options are then to either press with one fewer player than Norway have. In reality, Norway would actually have two players spare because their goalkeeper also gets involved in build-up. The second option is to drop off and block space but this has its own problems: The first being the negative association around setting up too pragmatically with Tuchel having built a side that identifies with a more front-footed approach. The second tactical downside is that Norway, as we saw against Brazil, can spend long periods on the ball as a way to slow down the game, rest and defend on the ball, and frustrate their opponents. Martin Odegaard, in his all-action role, is central to this – dropping deep, playing short passes that make it hard for opponents to get close to Norway once they are on the ball. It can appear pointless but it is an intelligent form of game management. Therefore, it is more likely and perhaps beneficial if England apply some pressure, looking to coerce Norway into playing in a way they have prepared for. Image caption, Odegaard frequently drops deep in front of the opposition midfield to dictate play, giving Norway extra players around the ball Brazil had some good ideas when Norway were building out from Nyland. One player curved their run looking to cut off one side of the pitch, often looking to force the keeper to his left. Wingers would be positioned ready to apply pressure to Norway's full-backs and the two remaining central attackers were ready to press the holding midfielder or free centre back. Image caption, Brazil didn't always apply a full man-to-man press but at times they did well to cut off one side of the pitch. This then allowed them to press with fewer players, applying man-to-man pressure on the easy-to-access players whilst leaving the harder-to-access players (in white) free Even when Nyland was forced onto his weaker side, with minimal short-passing options, his left-footed long passing was good enough to reliably find Sorloth. Knowing this is the option he would take here, it might be worth England forcing Norway into a longer pass, on his weaker left foot – as good as it is – while being ready to converge around the ball and win possession. England, normally defending with a front two, will be outnumbered if they only press with Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham against Norway using three central players in build-up, like they were against DR Congo. But if they push a midfielder high - possibly in the form of Declan Rice - they might be able create situations that, although chaotic, give them a better probability of playing on their own terms. Published16 hours agoDefying logic - how Haaland could end up with 260 international goals Published30 JuneHow do England stop Haaland?To stop Haaland, teams can either cut off his supply or deal with the man himself. The second option generally being a far tougher ask. When Norway have the ball high up the pitch, their attack is focused on wide units and rotations, much like Tuchel's England.

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Original Source: BBC Sport