Erling Haaland will be out to hurt England in the World Cup quarter-finals (Image: Getty Images)
Marc Guehi fears Erling Haaland will arrive with a point to prove against England. The England defender admits his Manchester City team-mate will be “up for it” in Saturday’s World Cup quarter-final in Miami.
Norway have more than justified their status as World Cup dark horses, with Haaland’s brace against Brazil in the last 16 taking his tournament tally to seven goals. Haaland has also found the net against ALL of England’s centre-halves when facing them, including SEVEN against former Crystal Palace defender Guehi prior to his move to City.
Guehi said: “I know he’ll be up for it. It’ll be a challenge, but it’s good to see some familiar faces and try and do our best and try and get a win. It’s going to be fun, it will be fun.”
The City defender also insists England will be well prepared for Norway, with team spirit and unity having grown considerably stronger throughout the tournament.
Guehi said: “Trust. We already had it before but trust even more. We spoke about stuff coming into it.
“I think everybody having that bond and that trust for one another and hopefully we can keep building that up. Let’s kick on.”
Yet England must find a solution to the Haaland problem. City’s record-breaking striker dismantled Brazil, harbours ambitions of claiming the Golden Boot, and remains the driving force behind Norway’s remarkable run in the competition.
The crucial point here is that while players are intimately familiar with Haaland’s capabilities, preventing him from scoring is an entirely different challenge.
His strikes – and the social media footage that has subsequently circulated widely – are quintessentially Haaland.
He appears to amble around the pitch, shoulders almost slouched, before suddenly exploding into life with a moment of breathtaking quality. He is undeniably a worldwide phenomenon.
How to neutralise him? Put simply, the answer is you cannot. The most successful and practical approach is to deny him service, possession and room to operate, forcing him to retreat deeper where his opportunities are restricted.
That is precisely what Premier League sides have attempted, and it will be England’s challenge in the quarter-final, as his power, pace, strength and dominance in the air make him a virtually unstoppable force.
Marc Guehi knows club team-mate Haaland better than most (Image: Getty Images)
Declan Rice and Elliot Anderson, serving as England’s midfield shield, will be absolutely crucial.
As a person and character, Haaland is equally ice-cool. He possesses a tremendous sense of humour, and the team spirit within the Norway dressing room appears outstanding from the outside. He is the beating heart of the squad.
Guehi’s pace, quality and tenacity will prove decisive. His ability to read the game and anticipate danger are amongst his greatest attributes.
Guehi also believes England will draw considerable confidence from their victory over Mexico, and the belief it has instilled within the squad could prove pivotal as the tournament progresses.
He also paid tribute to the supporters and the manner in which they have backed the team both inside the stadiums and from home.
Guehi told the FA’s Lions’ Den show: “I don’t think it’s sunk in. It was just such an amazing moment for everyone watching at home. And It was so emotional, and in those moments that’s just all relief, all the energy just zapped out. So a really good moment.
“The hype about the Azteca was real! I’ll be honest I didn’t believe it all, everyone talking. But after twenty minutes, I was feeling it as well. That drink break was needed!”.
“And then the noise was probably the loudest stadium I’ve played in for sure. There were times when crazy stuff was going on.
“It was top. We speak a lot about the togetherness of this team and for everyone that defined it, especially in that game. Not just the guys I started but definitely every single person that came on.
“Even the lads that didn’t come on, like the support that you felt from even the bench was top. So real team performance.
“Thank you so much for the support. We definitely feel it, all the fans that travelled, thank you so much. Even in the Azteca. Still making your voice heard, and everyone’s staying up past their bedtimes to watch the game. Way past their bedtimes! Thank you.”