NORWAY may have been touted by many as this World Cup’s dark horse, but their impressive progress still feels like they have exceeded expectations.
Since finishing second in Group I, above Senegal, they have knocked out Ivory Coast and Brazil, scoring 12 goals across five games.
Now they face England who are tasked with nullifying a strong Norway side spearheaded by star striker Erling Haaland.
So, what do Norway do best and what might England boss Thomas Tuchel look to tweak in order to see his side through to the final four of the World Cup?
Norway boast attacking variety with Stale Solbakken’s men fluctuating between wanting to hold on to the ball and being able to attack quickly.
This is all downstream from their build-up play.
From goal-kicks, Orjan Nyland’s distribution has been excellent. Norway’s first instinct is to play short, often setting up with a wide back four and the keeper forming a fifth option, with two holding midfielders showing for the ball centrally.
With so many players deep, Norway often have an overload at the back making progressing up the pitch easier.
When short options are not viable, Nyland’s get-out-of-jail-free card is 6ft 5in Alexander Sorloth who Norway play on the right wing as a wide targetman for long diagonal balls.
This is something England left-back Nico O’Reilly will have to be alert to, but, given his 6ft 4in height and frame, this is a far more even match-up than Norway have experienced so far.
So how do you stop Norway’s varied build-up play?
There are a few options, but they come with trade-offs, as do all tactical approaches.
The most obvious answer is a man-to-man press across the pitch.
This is simple. It reduces their numerical advantage and the hope is, if Nyland goes long to Sorloth, O’Reilly is good enough to win the physical battle.
The problem is this tactic leaves somebody one against one with Haaland down the middle of the pitch, in space.
Most coaches, as a result, would probably want to have a spare man at the back, leaving two defenders around Haaland.
England’s options are then to either press with one fewer player than Norway have. In reality, Norway would actually have two players spare because their goalkeeper also gets involved in build-up.
The second option is to drop off and block space, but this has its own problems.
The first is the negative association around setting up too pragmatically, with Tuchel having built a side that identifies with a more front-footed approach.
The second tactical downside is that Norway, as we saw against Brazil, can spend long periods on the ball as a way to slow down the game, rest and defend on the ball, and frustrate their opponents.
Martin Odegaard, in his all-action role, is central to this – dropping deep, playing short passes that make it hard for opponents to get close to Norway once they are on the ball.
It can appear pointless but is an intelligent form of game management.
Therefore, it is more likely and perhaps beneficial if England apply some pressure, looking to coerce Norway into playing in a