Why Haaland is not the only Norway star England must keep quiet

But former skipper John Terry claims keeping Martin Odegaard quiet will also be key for the Three Lions on Saturday night.

“Listen, Norway are a good side. I think they’re well drilled,” said the Chelsea legend on Piers Morgan Uncensored.

“I think everything that goes well through that team goes through Odegaard. If England stop him and Haaland, we have a big, big chance.”

Manchester City ace Haaland, 25, is one of the leading contenders to win the Golden Boot, having netted seven goals in four appearances in North America.

But with three assists from the same number of games, Odegaard’s importance cannot be overlooked.

Captain for club and country, the Arsenal midfielder is always on hand to keep his team ticking.

Thomas Tuchel is almost certain to hand the responsibility of snuffing out the threat Odegaard poses to his Gunners team-mate Declan Rice and Manchester City new-boy Elliot Anderson.

As for stopping the prolific Haaland, Marc Guehi and Ezri Konsa are set to be tasked with the job of preventing him from troubling Jordan Pickford.

And Terry, who was capped 78 times by the Three Lions, is well placed to break down the daunting challenge England’s centre-backs face.

Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images

He said: “It’s difficult because he can just run in behind you. He’s so powerful and so quick, so you always have to be aware of that.

“Also, it feels like he’s kind of saving his energy in the games, he’s not making runs in behind, his hold-up play is very good.

“But then from set-plays and crosses, he just comes alive. Gabriel found that [when Norway beat Brazil].

“As soon as that ball goes wide, as a defender you cannot be too focused on it because Haaland is behind.

“As soon as that ball goes wide, I need to take myself out of the equation, take Haaland out of the equation.

“Whoever is marking Haaland in the box, stay tight with him, stay fully focused on him, be really selfish and take him out the game, because at any moment…

“Harry Kane does it, all the top strikers do it, and Haaland does it probably better than anybody.”

While stopping two star players may not sound too big a challenge, Three Lions supporters are well aware that Odegaard and Haaland are two of the best in their respective positions.

And as Terry points out, it may only take one moment of brilliance — or a lapse of concentration from Tuchel’s men — to crush England’s World Cup dream.

Watch the world's best football on DAZN

After the World Cup is over, there is so much great football still to watch on DAZN.

Premier League: All English top flight matches live and in full in Canada

Serie A: Watch all 380 matches of the Italian league live in the UK and Canada. Also in the US in Spanish language

Champions League: Watch every match of the 2026/27 campaign in Canada. Three matches per round exclusively in the US, in Spanish language

National League: DAZN is the home of the National League, with every game available either live or on-demand, plus selected North and South matches

FIFA+ on DAZN: Watch over 7,000 live matches a year, plus World Cup archive, iconic documentaries, films, and player profiles for FREE

More details and to subscribe to a DAZN football package, click here

DAZN/FIFA