Gary Neville has sounded a note of caution for England ahead of their World Cup quarter-final against Norway, warning that Erling Haaland's explosiveness could prove decisive despite the Three Lions being favourites.
England progressed to the last eight following a dramatic 3-2 victory over Mexico at the Azteca, with Jude Bellingham scoring twice and Harry Kane converting a penalty. However, Norway produced a seismic shock of their own by defeating five-time champions Brazil, with Haaland netting a brace to take his tournament tally to seven goals – level with Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé in the Golden Boot race.
Speaking to Sky Sports News, Neville acknowledged England's status but stressed the threat posed by the Manchester City striker.
"It's tough to stop Haaland, because he can be anonymous in matches; he doesn't touch the ball a lot but you know that he's explosive," Neville said. "He was devastating against Brazil; those two goals were absolutely brilliant – classic Haaland. Difficult to stop him for 90 minutes, or if it's extra-time as well, 120 minutes, but we should be favourites. I don't think that's us getting carried away."
Neville: England Must Cut Out ‘Little Bugs’
The former England full-back highlighted defensive lapses against Mexico that could be punished by Haaland's ruthlessness.
"Just get rid of those one or two little bugs we had. They went a little bit deep for the Raul Jimenez header, where Jordan Pickford made a great save. You can't drop back onto your goalkeeper with Haaland. If we can get rid of those one or two little bugs that we had last night, we were near on perfect defensively," Neville added.
He also praised Norway's manager for bold tactical changes at half-time in their match against Brazil, noting the Scandinavian side's attacking firepower.
Bellingham ‘Smashed Through’ World-Class Ceiling
Neville was effusive about Bellingham's performance at the Azteca, where the Real Madrid midfielder became the first player to score twice at the venue in a World Cup match since Diego Maradona in 1986.
"In this tournament, Bellingham's absolutely smashed through that ceiling. He's on another level," Neville declared. "Going into this tournament, my personal words were that I didn't think it was a question between Jude Bellingham and Morgan Rogers. Rogers is a great player but Bellingham has to play."
Key Takeaways
- Gary Neville believes England are favourites but must be wary of Erling Haaland's clinical finishing in the World Cup quarter-final.
- Haaland's seven goals put him joint-top of the scoring charts, alongside Messi and Mbappé.
- Neville urged England to eliminate defensive errors, particularly dropping deep, which could be exploited by Haaland.
- Jude Bellingham's stunning double against Mexico has elevated him to "world-class" status in Neville's eyes.
- Norway's historic win over Brazil underlines their threat as a dangerous, well-coached side.
Quick Facts
Match: England vs Norway – World Cup 2026 Quarter-Final
Date: Saturday, July 2026
Venue: Miami, USA
Haaland's Tournament Goals: 7 (joint-top with Messi and Mbappé)
Source: Sky Sports
