England just pulled off a wild thriller against Mexico, clinching their spot in the World Cup quarterfinals for the third straight tournament, something they haven't done in nearly 60 years, all the way back to the 1960s. Now, the Three Lions are looking at a huge showdown this Saturday in Miami against Norway, a team that might be talented as a group, but absolutely runs through one monstrous 6-foot-4 speed demon: Erling Haaland. This isn't just another game, it's the gate to the semifinals, and former England defender Warren Barton, now a FOX Sports analyst, has some strong thoughts on how his squad gets it done. He was impressed with how England handled Mexico in that home-field advantage at Estadio Azteca, but knows they have to build on that success.
The Monster Norway Built: Haaland's Seven Goals
Haaland is an absolute force, and there is no sugarcoating it. The guy is single-handedly carrying Norway's attack, accounting for seven of their 11 World Cup goals so far this tournament. You know how rare that is? He is barely trailing Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé in the Golden Boot race, both of whom have eight goals each. While Argentina still has to play Switzerland on Saturday, and France is already in the semis after beating Morocco, Haaland is right there. Barton nails it, saying "The biggest thing they have to do is keep Haaland quiet." He calls it obvious, but he is right. This dude only needs half a chance to make you pay. You really cannot let him get comfortable out there. Martin Ødegaard has been doing his thing, too, but everyone knows where Norway's true power lies.Warren Barton's Defensive Blueprint for England
So how do you actually shut down a player like Haaland? Barton, with that defensive mindset, laid it out clear. England has to press him up the field a bit. They cannot let him run behind their back line. It's all about making sure there is always a body on him, every single second. Barton preaches a high defensive line, forcing Norway to play direct, taking away their ability to build up slowly and get Haaland closer to the goal. "You've got to press him up, and don't allow them to get the ball to him," Barton explained. "There will be times they have the ball; make them go direct. Don't sit back and invite them to have possession and come forward, so he can get closer and closer to the goal. I think we have to keep him high. Have a high line and play a high line and make them play direct." This is the key, the absolute make or break strategy. If they give him space, it is over.Unleash Kane and Bellingham: England's Dynamic Duo
Of course, you cannot just defend all game. England has to score, and that means leaning on their own goal-scoring giants: Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham. These two are absolutely vital. They have combined for 10 of England's 11 goals in this tournament, with Kane bagging six himself. He is right there near the Golden Boot frontrunners, too. Norway will certainly look to stifle England's top duo, but Barton stressed that England needs to enable their scoring chances and capitalize on the chemistry those two have developed. "I think both of them have come to this tournament with a point to prove that they've been form," Barton mentioned, getting cut off but his point is crystal clear. Letting these two do their thing will go a long, long way. Barton is predicting a 2-0 victory for England, which sounds pretty sweet, but he is also realistic that it won't be easy. "I'm not overly confident, but I'm pretty confident," he told us recently. "And it's not coming home yet, but it might be on the plane. We don't know." This Saturday's match in Miami is everything. Semifinal glory is just one win away. Can England execute Barton's plan and keep the dream of it coming home alive? We are about to find out.This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.