Thomas Tuchel has steered England into the quarter-finals of this summer’s tournament, and the Three Lions will certainly back themselves to progress against Norway. Reaching the last four would equal their best finish since 1966, but this squad looks primed to go even further.
What’s happening
England finished top of their group, but they initially struggled to break down defensive setups against Ghana and Panama. However, their gritty 3-2 victory over Mexico in a hostile environment showed exactly what this squad is made of.
That newfound resilience gives them a massive boost as they prepare for a showdown in Miami. Norway stand in their way, having pulled off a shock win over Brazil in the previous round.
The Scandinavians have utilised their squad well, meaning they should bring fresh legs into this tie. It sets up an intriguing tactical battle between two very different sides.
Here is how England have fared at recent major tournaments:
| Tournament | Round of Exit | Wins | Draws | Losses |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 Tournament | Semi-Final | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Euro 2020 | Final | 5 | 1 | 1 |
| 2022 Tournament | Quarter-Final | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| Euro 2024 | Final | 4 | 2 | 1 |
The numbers behind the story
Harry Kane and Erling Haaland are dominating the goalscoring charts this summer. Haaland sits on seven goals, while Kane is right behind him with six strikes to his name.
The England captain is proving incredibly clinical, overperforming his expected goals (xG) by a massive 2.37. Jude Bellingham is also thriving alongside him, netting four times already after his crucial brace against the co-hosts.
Norway controlled the ball against Brazil, racking up a surprising 66% possession. However, that expansive approach left them vulnerable to quick turnovers when they lost the ball.
Despite their famous victory, the Norwegians gave up 2.61 xG to the South Americans, compared to their own 1.05. England’s immense attacking depth should allow them to exploit those exact same defensive gaps.
Ståle Solbakken’s team are conceding an average of 1.8 goals per game. If they offer up similar spaces in Miami, Tuchel’s forwards will surely punish them.
The betting angle
England are currently priced at 17/20 to win this match, reflecting their strong tournament pedigree and deep squad. Being the favourites against the Scandinavians means that England’s outright odds have also shortened significantly.
The bookmakers have slashed their price to lift the trophy to 5/1, a massive drop from the 10/1 available earlier in July. Norway carry a real attacking threat but leak chances, making Both Teams To Score an appealing prospect at 4/6.
With both sides finding the net consistently, could this be another high-scoring thriller in Miami?
| Event | Market | Odds |
|---|---|---|
| Norway vs England | England To Win | 17/20 |
| Norway vs England | Both Teams To Score | 4/6 |
| Outright | England To Win | 5/1 |
Odds subject to change.
