STALE SOLBAKKEN is not scared of facing Harry Kane as the England captain prepares for his goalscoring shootout with Erling Haaland.
The Three Lions hero, 32, has scored six goals in five matches at this World Cup – only Kylian Mbappe, Lionel Messi and Solbakken’s own Haaland have more.
Erling Haaland warmed up for the quarter-final in 33C Miami heat Credit: PA
Harry Kane has been banging in the goals and will hope to add another against a Norway side without a clean sheet Credit: Getty
But ahead of the two best No9s on the planet facing off in Miami, Solbakken, 58, said: “It’s Norway vs England.
“But it’s no secret Kane is the No1 matchwinner for England and Erling is the No1 matchwinner for Norway.”
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Norway have scored in every game but at the other end are yet to keep a clean sheet, conceding one to Iraq, two to Senegal, four to France and one to Ivory Coast.
They almost held on for a shutout against Brazil.
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But Neymar slotted in a 100th-minute penalty.
And the defensive record is no concern for Solbakken despite coming up against Kane and Co.
Solbakken added with a wry smile: “We were ten seconds away from a clean sheet last time against Brazil, so don’t be too sure.”
Norway arrived in Miami on Monday, the day after the last-16 win over Brazil in New Jersey.
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The knockout stages of the World Cup are hotting up as we head towards the business end of the tournament.
England believe football might finally be coming home after 60 years of hurt, with Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham on fire.
But the likes of France, Spain and Argentina are all serious contenders to go all the way.
Heavyweights Germany, Netherlands, Brazil and Portugal have all been knocked out.
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They have trained at noon in the 33C ‘heat advisory’ temperatures for the last three days – and some players wore ice vests before taking to the field on the eve of the match.
England, however, only touched down in Florida on Friday as they returned to their Kansas City base after beating Mexico in the Azteca.
It is expected to be 33C at 5pm local time for kick-off – with thunderstorms a possibility – and Solbakken added: “If the weather is like it is now, maybe even hotter, chasing the ball is very tiring.
“Both teams need to be able to keep the ball otherwise it will be a long, long game.
“We trained very lightly and haven’t done much hard work or for long sessions, it’s been tactical sessions at a lower tempo and about being fresh.”
