England captain Harry Kane has praised Erling Haaland as “a machine” and “a beast” but insisted the two strikers are very different players as England prepare to face Norway in the World Cup quarter-finals.
Speaking before Saturday’s match, Kane dismissed comparisons between the pair despite both leading their countries’ attacks and competing for the tournament’s Golden Boot.
“I think we’re completely different players. I know we’re both strikers, but we’re in almost two different positions,” he said.
The Bayern Munich forward described Haaland as one of the world’s best finishers.
“Erling is incredible. His goalscoring record, physically, he’s a machine; he’s a beast. His finishing is at the highest level, and his goalscoring record speaks for itself.
“I see myself as a different player, although I score the same goals. I like to maybe touch the ball a little bit more and be involved with the play a little bit more, but I can also play as maybe the out-and-out number nine.
“I don’t think it’s one to compare ourselves to. I respect him a lot as a player and as a professional. Obviously, I’m hoping he has a quiet day tomorrow, but I think his overall performance is very good. He’s a fantastic player.”
Haaland has scored seven goals in his first four matches at a major tournament, including two against Brazil in the last 16 to send Norway into their first World Cup quarter-final. Kane has six goals at this tournament and has taken his overall World Cup tally to 14.
Both trail Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe, who lead the Golden Boot race with eight goals each.
Kane won the Golden Boot at the 2018 World Cup but said his priority is ending England’s 60-year wait for a major international trophy rather than claiming another individual award.
“I think it’s been an amazing World Cup on that front in terms of all the top strikers, all the top goalscorers scoring goals and affecting games. It’s not always the case at these major tournaments,” he said.
“It’s a great competition. It puts me in a mindset to be at my very best level as much as possible.
“My main goal is to win the World Cup more than another Golden Boot, but I also know I’m a goalscorer; I’m the number nine, so if I’m scoring goals, it’s obviously going to help the team.”
The England captain urged his teammates to maintain their focus as they aim to reach the final stages of the tournament.
“Ultimately, until we win that trophy, there’s always going to be that talk around England and the team, but we’re in a good position. We’re in a place that we wanted to be six weeks ago when we met up for prep camp.
“Now we’re in the final eight days of the final push. We’re going to need everyone to be at the highest level to achieve our dreams.”
Norway coach Stale Solbakken believes the contest between Haaland and Kane could prove decisive but stressed the match is about the two teams rather than two individuals.
“I think it’s Norway versus England, but I don’t think it is a secret that Kane is the match winner number one for England and Haaland is the match winner number one for us,” he said.
Norway are appearing at their first major tournament for 26 years and have exceeded expectations, highlighted by their 2-1 victory over Brazil in the last 16, secured by Haaland’s late double.
“Every game has been the most important [in history] for Norwegian football, especially in the knockout rounds, so this is the third time it is the most important game,” Solbakken said.
“I think England has more pressure than us, but we also put pressure on our performance. When the game has started, I don’t think the players think so much about the pressure when it’s 11 versus 11.”
The coach said the team’s run has united supporters at home and abroad, with Norway’s Viking rowing celebration becoming one of the tournament’s defining images.
“I think the whole of Norway is looking forward to tomorrow. We’ve had some great nights in this World Cup before, and it brings the country together,” he said.
“Maybe this will never come back to Norway because I think we will qualify more. Every time [now] we have a possibility to go through to a European Championship or a World Cup. But now it’s 26 years since we had it last time.”
