The 2026 World Cup is fast approaching, and England is gearing up to face Norway, a team that has exceeded expectations and is now a formidable force. The question on everyone's mind is: How can England stop Norway, and specifically, how can they contain the deadly Erling Haaland? In this article, I will delve into the tactical nuances and strategic considerations that England must navigate to secure their path to the final four.
The Haaland-Nyland Dilemma
Norway's success can be attributed to their versatile attacking style, which fluctuates between holding onto the ball and launching quick counterattacks. This dynamic is largely influenced by their build-up play, which is both intelligent and effective. From goal-kicks, Orjan Nyland's distribution has been exceptional, often setting up a wide back four with the keeper forming a fifth option, and two holding midfielders showing for the ball centrally. This setup provides Norway with an overload at the back, making it easier for them to progress up the pitch.
When short options are not viable, Nyland's get-out-of-jail-free card is Alexander Sorloth, who is played on the right wing as a wide targetman for long diagonal balls. This is a crucial element of Norway's strategy, and it presents a significant challenge for England's left-back, Nico O'Reilly, who is 6ft 4in tall and has a physical advantage over Sorloth. However, O'Reilly's height and frame make this a more even match-up than Norway has experienced so far.
The most obvious way to stop Norway's varied build-up play is through a man-to-man press across the pitch. This tactic reduces their numerical advantage, and the hope is that O'Reilly can win the physical battle with Sorloth if Nyland goes long. However, this approach leaves someone one-on-one with Haaland in the middle of the pitch, in space, which is a significant risk.
Most coaches would likely want to have a spare man at the back, leaving two defenders around Haaland. But how do you press Norway with two fewer players? England's options are limited, and they must decide whether to press with one fewer player than Norway or drop off and block space. The former option is more attractive, but it comes with its own set of problems.
Stopping Haaland
To stop Haaland, teams can either cut off his supply or deal with the man himself. The second option is generally 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. Antonio Nusa and Andreas Schjelderup take turns playing on the left wing and have serviced Haaland well. Space typically opens up for them following long underlapping runs from left-back David Moller Wolfe.
The benefit of these runs is two-fold. The first is that if tracked, this run pulls opposition midfielders deeper, opening up space inside for the wingers to cut inside into. A common method of chance creation is a deep in-swinging cross to the back post, which is one of Haaland's three most common methods of scoring. Conceding these crosses is less than ideal, and England must be aware of this.
On an individual level, Guehi and Palace would have benefitted from crowding Haaland out, one of the few ways teams have muted his influence. In a 1-1 draw against West Ham last season, Pep Guardiola said, 'Do you know how many central defenders were around [Haaland] today? 200 million. Do you know how many holding midfielders? It is the most difficult position on the planet.'
England's Path to Victory
As much as England will focus on stopping Haaland, one of the best ways of defending is by keeping the ball. Through sustained possession, England will hope to pen Norway back before then looking to use wide units of their own. If the wide midfielder holds their position in line with their midfield, opposition full-backs making runs off the back of them can create clever 2v1 situations with their winger, against Norway's full-backs.
Pacy wingers pushing the ball past their full-back to the byline, drawing Norway closer to their own goal, has opened up cut-backs for late-arriving attackers to put away – something Gordon has facilitated for England before. And if Norway do get their foot on the ball, attacking big spaces quickly when they turn the ball over is a valuable form of attack.
Norway are susceptible to leaving fewer players behind the ball in possession, and although Brazil did not score in open play, when they did win the ball back, they created numerous big chances in this counter-attacking fashion. The likes of Gordon, Bellingham, Rice, and Noni Madueke generally enjoy attacking these spaces.
In conclusion, England faces a formidable challenge in stopping Norway and Erling Haaland. However, with the right tactical adjustments and a focused approach, they can navigate this hurdle and secure their place in the final four. It will be a tough battle, but with the right strategy and execution, England can emerge victorious.
