HOW CAN ENGLAND EFFECTIVELY DEFEND AGAINST NORWAY AND HAALAND?
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| Erling Haaland has scored seven goals so far at the World Cup |
Despite being hailed by many as the dark horse of 2018 World Cup, Norway's remarkable performance still seems to have surpassed expectations.
They defeated Ivory Coast and Brazil, scoring 12 goals in five games, after placing second above Senegal in Group B. They now take on England, who must neutralize them and star attacker Erling Haaland.
What does Norway excel at, therefore, and what should England manager Thomas Tuchel try to do to help his team advance to the World Cup last four?
The difficulty of Haaland and Nyland
Stale Solbakken's team alternates between trying to hang onto the ball and being able to attack swiftly, giving Norway great attacking versatility.
All of this comes after their build-up play.
Orjan Nyland's distribution from goal-kicks has been outstanding. Norway's natural tendency is to play short, with two holding midfielders displaying for the ball centrally, a wide back four, and the keeper serving as a fifth option.
Norway frequently has an overload at the back due to having so many players deep, which facilitates moving up the field.
Norway's 6-foot-5-inch Alexander Sorloth, a wide targetman for long diagonal balls on the right wing, is Nyland's get-out-of-jail-free card when short choices aren't feasible.
Stale Solbakken's team alternates between trying to hang onto the ball and being able to attack swiftly, giving Norway great attacking versatility.
All of this comes after their build-up play.
Orjan Nyland's distribution from goal-kicks has been outstanding. Norway's natural tendency is to play short, with two holding midfielders displaying for the ball centrally, a wide back four, and the keeper serving as a fifth option.
Norway frequently has an overload at the back due to having so many players deep, which facilitates moving up the field.
Norway's 6-foot-5-inch Alexander Sorloth, a wide targetman for long diagonal balls on the right wing, is Nyland's get-out-of-jail-free card when short choices aren't feasible.
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| Long balls to Sorloth on the right wing is a usual pattern to look out for when Norway play |
Nico O'Reilly, the left-back for England, will need to be aware of this, but considering his size and height of 6 feet 4 inches, this is a far more even match than Norway has encountered thus far.
So how can Norway's varied build-up play be stopped?
There are a few choices, but like all tactical strategies, they have trade-offs.
A man-to-man press across the field is the most obvious solution.
This is easy. It lessens their numerical advantage, and it is hoped that O'Reilly will be strong enough to prevail physically if Nyland travels far to Sorloth.
The issue is that this strategy puts someone in space and one-on-one with Haaland in the middle of the field.
So how can Norway's varied build-up play be stopped?
There are a few choices, but like all tactical strategies, they have trade-offs.
A man-to-man press across the field is the most obvious solution.
This is easy. It lessens their numerical advantage, and it is hoped that O'Reilly will be strong enough to prevail physically if Nyland travels far to Sorloth.
The issue is that this strategy puts someone in space and one-on-one with Haaland in the middle of the field.
As a result, most coaches would probably prefer to have two defenders surrounding Haaland and a spare guy in the back.
How do you press Norway with two fewer players?
Then, England can either press with one fewer player than Norway. Since their goalie also participates in build-up, Norway would actually have two extra players.
Dropping off and blocking space is the second alternative, however this has drawbacks of its own:
The first is that Tuchel has developed a side that identifies with a more forward-thinking strategy, which is negatively associated with setting up too pragmatically.
The second tactical drawback is that Norway can slow down the game, rest and defend on the ball, and irritate their opponents by spending a lot of time on the ball, as we witnessed against Brazil.
Dropping off and blocking space is the second alternative, however this has drawbacks of its own:
The first is that Tuchel has developed a side that identifies with a more forward-thinking strategy, which is negatively associated with setting up too pragmatically.
The second tactical drawback is that Norway can slow down the game, rest and defend on the ball, and irritate their opponents by spending a lot of time on the ball, as we witnessed against Brazil.
This is mostly due to Martin Odegaard's all-action role, where he plays short passes and drops deep, making it difficult for opponents to come near Norway once they have the ball.
Although it can seem useless, it is a clever method of game management.
As a result, it is more likely—and possibly advantageous—that England will exert some pressure in an effort to force Norway to play as they have planned.
Although it can seem useless, it is a clever method of game management.
As a result, it is more likely—and possibly advantageous—that England will exert some pressure in an effort to force Norway to play as they have planned.
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| Odegaard frequently drops deep in front of the opposition midfield to dictate play, giving Norway extra players around the ball. |
When Norway was expanding from Nyland, Brazil had some clever ideas.
In an attempt to cut off one side of the field, one player curled his run, frequently trying to push the keeper to his left.
The two remaining central attackers were prepared to push the holding midfielder or free center back, while the wingers were positioned to put pressure on Norway's full-backs.
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| Brazil didn't always apply a full man-to-man press,but at times they did well to cut off one side of the pitch. |
Nyland's left-footed long passing was sufficient to consistently locate Sorloth even when he was forced onto his weaker side and had few short-passing options.
Given that he would choose this course of action, England may be able to force Norway to make a longer pass with his weaker left foot—as good as it is—while still being prepared to swarm on the ball and win possession.
If England, who often defend with a front two, only push with Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham against Norway utilizing three center players in build-up, like they did against DR Congo, they will be outnumbered.
Given that he would choose this course of action, England may be able to force Norway to make a longer pass with his weaker left foot—as good as it is—while still being prepared to swarm on the ball and win possession.
If England, who often defend with a front two, only push with Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham against Norway utilizing three center players in build-up, like they did against DR Congo, they will be outnumbered.
However, they could be able to create circumstances that, despite being chaotic, give them a greater chance of playing on their terms if they push a midfielder high, perhaps Declan Rice.
How do England stop Haaland?
Teams can either deal with Haaland directly or cut off his supplies in order to stop him. In general, the second alternative is a far more difficult request.
Similar to Tuchel's England, Norway's assault is centered on wide units and rotations when the ball is high up the field.
Haaland has been well-served by Andreas Schjelderup and Antonio Nusa, who alternate on the left wing. Usually, after extended underlapping runs from left-back, space opens up for them. Wolfe, David Moller.
Similar to Tuchel's England, Norway's assault is centered on wide units and rotations when the ball is high up the field.
Haaland has been well-served by Andreas Schjelderup and Antonio Nusa, who alternate on the left wing. Usually, after extended underlapping runs from left-back, space opens up for them. Wolfe, David Moller.
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| Following the full-back's underlapping run, space opens up for Norway's wingers to get on their strong foot. This in-swinging cross resulted in an assist for Haaland's first goal against Brazil |
The first is that if the run is tracked, the opposing midfielders are drawn deeper, creating room for the wingers to cut inside.
A deep in-swinging cross to the back post is a popular technique for creating opportunities.
Giving up these crosses is not ideal because back post runs, through balls on the left, and cut-backs in front of a retreating defense are among Haaland's three most frequent scoring strategies.
If Marc Guehi starts, he might recall that Matheus Nunes made a cross similar to the ones mentioned in 2024 when playing for Crystal Palace against Manchester City. Haaland then peeled off the back of the England defender and went home.
One of the few ways teams have lessened Haaland's impact is by crowding him out, which Guehi and Palace would have benefited from on an individual basis back then.
Pep Guardiola, the former manager of Manchester City, spoke during a 1-1 draw with West Ham last season: "Do you know how many central defenders were surrounding [Haaland] today? 200 million. How many holding midfielders are there? It's the hardest job on the globe.
The Norwegian was frequently man-marked by West Ham's three central defenders and holding midfielder on that particular day.
Pep Guardiola, the former manager of Manchester City, spoke during a 1-1 draw with West Ham last season: "Do you know how many central defenders were surrounding [Haaland] today? 200 million. How many holding midfielders are there? It's the hardest job on the globe.
The Norwegian was frequently man-marked by West Ham's three central defenders and holding midfielder on that particular day.
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| Haaland's goal against Crystal Palace in 2024 is an example of the situation Norway will be looking to replicate against England and Marc Guehi |
It would make sense to use more skilled 1v1 defenders or double up in the wide areas to stop these back-post crosses, but doing so might allow the on-running full-back unmarked to cross the ball in themselves.
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| Moller Wolfe's underlapping run is not tracked and he receives the ball himself – in space – before cutting it back into the box. |
Tuchel has chosen to use similar offensive dynamics with England in the shape of Anthony Gordon and O'Reilly because of this challenging dilemma.
It wouldn't be shocking to see Bellingham make a more coordinated defensive attempt to address this, dropping in to form a midfield five when England is in their defensive block.
So how can England score?
Keeping the ball is one of the better defensive strategies, even though England will concentrate on stopping Haaland.
England will try to push Norway back with prolonged possession before attempting to employ their own wide units.
Opposition full-backs who make runs off the back of the wide midfielder can set up cunning 2v1 situations with their winger against Norway's full-backs if the wide midfielder maintains their position in line with their midfield.Keeping the ball is one of the better defensive strategies, even though England will concentrate on stopping Haaland.
England will try to push Norway back with prolonged possession before attempting to employ their own wide units.
Opposition full-backs who make runs off the back of the wide midfielder can set up cunning 2v1 situations with their winger against Norway's full-backs if the wide midfielder maintains their position in line with their midfield.
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| Ivory Coast's full-backs snuck behind Norway's wide midfielders to create useful 2v1 situations out wide |
O'Reilly will want to do the same versus Norway, much like Moller Wolfe did by underlapping runs to create space for wingers to cut inside or find themselves in behind.
Gordon has previously helped England create cut-backs for late-arriving attackers to score thanks to quick wingers who push the ball beyond their full-back to the byline, bringing Norway closer to their own goal.
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| Against Iraq, Norway failed to track a deep underlapping run, instead doubling up on winger Ali Jasem (number 17). |
Additionally, attacking large areas fast after turning the ball over is a useful attack strategy if Norway manages to get their foot on the ball.
Brazil did not score in open play, but when they did get the ball back, they produced multiple great chances in this counterattacking manner. Norway is prone to leaving less players behind the ball in control.
Attacking these areas is typically enjoyable for players like Gordon, Bellingham, Rice, and Noni Madueke.
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| Most notably was when Vinicius released Endrick in the second half, with a gaping hole to the centre and left of Norway's defense |
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