It takes a brave man to bet against Mexico in the Azteca, apparently. If you ignored the media hype about a bunch of non-factors and backed the Three Lions - then well done you. And a big well done to VB Tips, who brought you England to win and both teams to score at 5/1 in our preview.
Thomas Tuchel's men laughed in the face of a logistical nightmare in the previous round, overcoming a brutal 2,200-metre altitude, an intense Mexican home crowd, and a straight red card to secure a historic 3-2 victory at the Azteca.
Meanwhile, Stale Solbakken’s rampant Norway side pulled off a genuine shock by dismantling five-time champions Brazil 2-1, booking their place in the last eight of a World Cup for the first time in their history.
With a semi-final spot against either Argentina or Switzerland awaiting the winner, the stakes could not be higher. England are stepping into their 11th World Cup quarter-final, a stage that has historically proven to be their Achilles heel, with each of their last three tournament exits coming at the hands of European opposition.
However, after proving they can defend with their backs to the wall in Mexico City, holding just 33.2% possession but striking with lethal counter-attacks, the Three Lions look perfectly configured for the unique examination Solbakken's men will pose in the Florida humidity.
Team News and Lineups
Norway
Stale Solbakken is blessed with a completely clean bill of health ahead of his nation's biggest-ever fixture. Left-back David Moller Wolfe was forced off late against Brazil but has resumed full training and is locked to start.
Julian Ryerson is expected to retain his spot at right-back after coming through an hour of the last-16 tie unscathed.
The main headache for the manager is an enviable one in attack: Andreas Schjelderup, who set up both goals against Brazil, and Oscar Bobb are both knocking loudly on the door to displace Alexander Sorloth and Antonio Nusa out wide.
- Norway Predicted Lineup (4-3-3): Nyland; Ryerson, Ajer, Heggem, Moller Wolfe; Odegaard, Berge, Berg; Sorloth, Haaland, Nusa
England
Thomas Tuchel faces an immediate defensive shuffle following the disciplinary fallout from the Mexico battle. Jarell Quansah is suspended after picking up a straight red card for a high challenge, and with Reece James still a major hamstring doubt, the fit-again Djed Spence is primed to slot back into the starting XI.
In more bizarre news, Jordan Henderson's tournament is prematurely over after he suffered a broken wrist in a clumsy encounter with the advertising hoardings.
Tuchel is sweating on the recoveries of Marc Guéhi (hamstring) and Declan Rice (sickness bug) or else he will have to shuffle his pack to see who will anchor the defensive core on Saturday night.
- England Predicted Lineup (4-2-3-1): Pickford; Spence, Konsa, Guehi, O'Reilly; Rice, Anderson; Saka, Bellingham, Gordon; Kane
Norway vs England preview
This quarter-final serves up a truly blockbuster duel between two of world football's most elite marksmen: Erling Haaland and Harry Kane. Haaland is making a mockery of his debut World Cup, with his seven goals making him a serious contender for the Golden Boot, while converting a terrifying 39% of his total attempts across the tournament.
Kane sits just a single goal behind him on six, and his ice-cold pedigree in major tournament knockouts, boasting 11 goals in his last 12 sudden-death matches, means England possess the ultimate counterweight.
The tactical subplot in Jordan Pickford's penalty box will be fascinating. The England keeper is set to surpass Peter Shilton as England’s all-time leading appearance maker at the World Cup with his 18th cap, but he will have to exercise some serious personal demons to stop the City striker.
Pickford has a miserable domestic record against Haaland, conceding seven goals from the ten on-target shots he has faced from him in the Premier League.
Solbakken’s side are built to entertain, scoring 12 and shipping nine across their five games so far, and they have both scored and conceded in every single fixture. They will rely on Sander Berge's engine and Martin Odegaard's vision to feed Haaland, but their relentless urge to push full-backs high makes them incredibly vulnerable out wide.
If England can replicate the direct, transitional speed that tore Mexico apart, the pace of Bukayo Saka and Anthony Gordon should catch Norway completely cold on the break.
Norway vs England picks and predictions
- England to win and both teams to score at 8/5 (2.60) tipped by Elite Win & BTTS
- Harry Kane and Erling Haaland both to score at 7/2
READ MORE: Who will win the Golden Boot?