BBC Sport's football expert Chris Sutton has offered his predictions for the 2026 World Cup quarter-final clash between England and Norway, forecasting a tight contest.
Sutton noted England's resilience in their 3-2 victory over Mexico, a game he described as potentially the tournament's best so far. He praised the team's ability to perform under pressure with 10 men, commending the contributions of substitute players and defensive efforts from John Stones, Dan Burn, and Djed Spence.
Facing Norway
This upcoming match presents a different challenge for Thomas Tuchel's England side. Sutton acknowledged Norway as a strong team, citing Orjan Nyland's crucial saves in their win against Brazil. He pointed to Norway's star players, Martin Odegaard and Erling Haaland, as significant threats.
Sutton specifically highlighted Haaland's performance against Brazil, describing his movement for his first goal as "unbelievable." He noted that Haaland effectively won his individual battle with Gabriel and anticipates the striker will be a key factor in the game against England, potentially scoring multiple goals.
England's Tournament So Far
While England has reached this stage, Sutton observed that they have not consistently controlled games as might have been expected. He characterized their approach as being a "team of moments," delivering quality at crucial times to advance. Despite this, Sutton believes England's attacking talent, including Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham, will pose a significant threat to Norway's defense. He suggested that if the game opens up, England would be well-equipped to capitalize.
Sutton's score prediction for the match is a 2-3 victory for England, while an AI prediction favored England with a 1-2 win.