FORGET HAALAND: Brad Friedel names the real Norway danger England must stop
As the Three Lions of England prepare for a high-stakes World Cup quarter-final clash against Norway on Saturday, the footballing world is asking one burning question: How do you stop Erling Haaland?
So far at this summer’s tournament, no team has found an answer. The lethal striker has been in devastating form, hammering in seven goals in just four matches—including a spectacular second-half brace that eliminated Brazil in the Round of 16. Haaland’s clinical edge has fired Norway into their first World Cup appearance since 1998, and they show no signs of slowing down.
However, former Premier League goalkeeper Brad Friedel believes England’s focus shouldn’t be on Haaland himself, but rather on the man pulling the strings behind him.
Cut the supply chain: The Odegaard factor
Speaking to SPORTbible (in association with Tonybet), Friedel outlined the tactical blueprint Thomas Tuchel’s England side must deploy to survive the Norwegian onslaught.
“You can’t just stop Erling Haaland – he doesn’t actually get that many touches in a game – it’s about limiting the service to him,” Friedel explained. “If you allow their wingers and full-backs to get into crossing positions, even the best defenders in the world will have a hard time stopping Haaland jumping and getting to the ball.”
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According to the former Liverpool and Blackburn shot-stopper, the real key to neutralizing the threat lies in shutting down Arsenal maestro Martin Odegaard. Odegaard put on a masterclass against Brazil, misplacing just one of his 53 first-half passes to dictate the tempo of the game.
“Martin Odegaard is the player in the Norway team that gets the most touches, so you have to limit Odegaard’s involvement,” Friedel added, while warning that Norway isn’t a two-man show. “They are not one-dimensional—they have Antonio Nusa, Oscar Bobb… a lot of threats.”
Norway head coach Stale Solbakken echoed Friedel’s sentiments regarding Odegaard’s tactical importance, praising his captain’s work rate ahead of the Saturday showdown.
“In our team, he is invaluable,” Solbakken said. “He’s always been a two-way player, being influential in all phases. He’s always working the hardest, covering ground and sprints. He’s the trigger. He decides if we’re playing 4-1-4-1 in defence, or if we’re playing 4-4-2.”
The Midfield Battle: Bellingham channeling Zidane and Gerrard
While England figures out how to stop Norway’s dynamic duo, the Scandinavians will have their hands full trying to contain Jude Bellingham.
The Real Madrid star has been indispensable for Thomas Tuchel’s side during the tournament, drawing lofty comparisons from Friedel, who sees shades of football royalty in the young Englishman.
“Jude Bellingham is right up there among the best I’ve seen. In his movements, he reminds me of Zinedine Zidane. Bellingham is also very good technically in tight areas,” Friedel noted.
“He has that capability of playing the No. 8 and the No. 10, he tracks back, can make a tackle, is good in the air in both boxes… He covers so much of the pitch – in that way I can compare him to Steven Gerrard.”
Friedel concluded with a bold prediction for the midfielder: “Let’s see how Bellingham’s career develops, but he’s on a trajectory to lift as many trophies as the likes of Frank Lampard, Paul Scholes, or Gerrard.”
With tactical chess pieces moving on both sides, Saturday’s clash promises to be an absolute blockbuster for football fans across Nigeria and the world.
