Haaland faces the country he calls home. 'Put all the pressure on England.'

Haaland has spent this tournament handing the pressure to everyone else. Before Norway's final group game against France, he said he 'didn't care too much' about losing; France won 4-1 with him on the bench. Then Norway beat Ivory Coast 2-1 and stunned five-time champions Brazil 2-1 in the round of 16, Haaland scoring a brace against Brazil to send Norway into the quarterfinals for the first time.

This is Norway's first World Cup since 1998, a 28-year wait for a nation of just over five million. Haaland, in his debut World Cup at 25, has seven goals and sits third in the Golden Boot race behind Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe. Off the pitch he has become the tournament's most recognisable face, joking in news conferences and posting selfies. On it, he is the reason Norway keeps beating bigger teams.

Against England he faces the country of his birth. Haaland was born in Leeds and plays for Manchester City. 'It's a special game, definitely,' he said. Asked whether England fans should stay humble, he replied, 'I think everyone should stay humble,' before adding that England 'should be confident of progressing, it's England.' Asked directly if all the pressure was on the Three Lions, he said: 'Yeah, definitely.'

England, under Thomas Tuchel, are the favourites and have the depth to back it. They topped their group, came from behind to beat DR Congo, and knocked out co-hosts Mexico 3-2 at the Azteca in the round of 16, reaching a third straight quarterfinal. Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham have scored 10 of England's 11 goals. But the defence has kept only two clean sheets in five games, and it will be short-handed: Jarell Quansah is suspended after his red card against Mexico, Jordan Henderson is out with a broken wrist, and Marc Guehi and Reece James are doubtful with injuries. That is the unit that has to contain Haaland.

The Opta model makes England 50.4 percent to win in normal time and Norway 25.1 percent, with a near one-in-four chance the game reaches extra time. The two nations have never met at a World Cup; in 12 previous meetings England have won seven and Norway two. The winner goes to the side of the bracket opposite France, meeting Argentina or Switzerland in the semifinal in Atlanta on July 15.

Norway captain Martin Odegaard framed it the way his whole team has all tournament: 'We were underdogs against Brazil too.' Kickoff is 06:00 JST on July 12 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami. The question the match answers is whether England's thin, leaky defence can do what Brazil could not, and keep Haaland quiet.