Томас Тухелийн удирдлага дахь Английн шигшээ баг Мексикийг хожсоны дараа Майамид болох дэлхийн аваргын шөвгийн наймын тоглолтод Норвегитой хүч үзэхээр бэлтгэлээ базааж байна.
Английн шигшээ багийн хувьд Марк Гэхи, Рис Жеймс, Деклан Райс нарын бэртэл гэмтэл тодорхойгүй байгаа нь дасгалжуулагчийн санааг зовоож байна. Түүнчлэн Жордан Хендерсон тэмцээнийг орхиж, Жарелл Куанса өмнөх тоглолтод улаан хуудас авснаар хоёр тоглолтын эрхээ хасуулсан нь хамгаалалтын шугамд хүндрэл учруулж буй юм. “Атлетик”-ийн шинжээчдийн хувьд Жон Стоунзыг гараанд гаргаж, Эрлинг Холандын эсрэг туршлагатай хамгаалагчаа ашиглах нь зүйтэй гэсэн байр суурийг илэрхийлж байна.
Норвегийн хувьд Эрлинг Холанд, Мартин Эдегор, Антонио Нуса нарын бүрэлдэхүүнтэйгээр түүхэндээ анх удаа шөвгийн наймд шалгарч байгаа нь энэ тэмцээний хамгийн онцлох үйл явдлуудын нэг болоод байна. Английн шигшээ багийн хувьд баруун жигүүрийн хамгаалалтын асуудлыг Эзри Консагаар шийдвэрлэх магадлал өндөр байгаа бөгөөд Энтони Гордон, Букайо Сака нар довтолгооны шугамыг тэргүүлэн тоглох төлөвтэй байна.
Шинжээчид шар хуудасны улмаас дараагийн шатыг өнжих эрсдэлтэй тоглогчдоо нөөх нь буруу болохыг онцолж, Английг хамгийн хүчтэй бүрэлдэхүүнээрээ талбайд гарахыг зөвлөж байна. Энэхүү тоглолт нь Английн хувьд хагас шигшээд шалгарахын тулд Норвегийн довтолгоог хэрхэн саармагжуулахаас ихээхэн хамаарах болно.
Дэлгэрэнгүй эх сурвалжийг харах
Эх сурвалжийг нээх ↓
After the euphoria of victory in Mexico, England face a very different World Cup challenge on Saturday.
Norway have been this tournament’s surprise package, reaching the last eight for the first time in their history — although, in truth, a squad blessed with the likes of Erling Haaland, Martin Odegaard and Antonio Nusa should not really be called dark horses.
England coach Thomas Tuchel has some decisions to make ahead of tomorrow’s game in Miami, with fitness concerns lingering over key personnel such as Marc Guehi, Reece James and Declan Rice (Jordan Henderson has also been ruled out of the tournament), while Jarell Quansah’s two-match suspension for his red card in the previous round against Mexico further depletes his defensive options.
The Athletic’s experts reveal who they would pick for this quarter-final.
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Jack Pitt-Brooke
Personally, I would stick with John Stones at centre-back. He brought all of his experience to the second half of the Mexico last-16 game and England have no real alternative to his intelligence and understanding. And the fact that he will know Erling Haaland’s game better than anyone, having played with him at Manchester City for the past four seasons.
England also do not have a fully-fit specialist right-back, so I would keep Ezri Konsa there, after he did a heroic stand-in job there at the Estadio Azteca, even ahead of Djed Spence, who also did well off the bench on Sunday. In practice, I imagine Tuchel will want to keep Konsa and Marc Guehi together in the middle, but this is my team and my rules.
Beyond that, it is hard to see the case for making changes. Anthony Gordon has to continue down the left after his brilliant work in the previous round. I would keep Bukayo Saka in, too, with Noni Madueke as a useful potential game-changer in the second half.
Some people may want to rest players who are on a yellow card in this match to avoid the risk of suspension, but that would be the height of arrogance. England need to be all-in to beat Norway.
Sarah Shephard
It would be great news if James was fully fit and available again, but starting him in this game feels a bit too much of a risk, so I would opt for Konsa to continue at right-back, where he filled in so well against Mexico after Quansah’s 54th-minute red card. The presence of an extra centre-back on the pitch might also be useful to help defend crosses. If this match goes to extra time, James is a great option to be able to call off the bench when fresh legs are needed.
I’m saying the same thing about Dan Burn, who performed so heroically in the 20 minutes or so he was on the pitch at the Azteca. Despite his ability to combat Haaland’s aerial threat, I would have concerns over the equally-threatening ball in behind. Late in the game, when pace of play and energy might be lower in the Florida heat, he’s clearly a great option for helping shore up England’s defence.
I’m keeping Stones in alongside Guehi, if the latter is fit, at centre-back then, to try to nullify the threat of Haaland using his experience and knowledge of the Norwegian’s game, having spent so much time with him at City.
Elsewhere, I’m sticking with the same setup as against Mexico, with Saka carrying the extra task of trying to track David Moller Wolfe’s underlaps or help double-team him (the importance of which is outlined here).
Oliver Kay
Is there a case for drafting in Big Dan Burn to deal with Haaland’s aerial threat? I think there is, whether in the centre of defence or at left-back. I’ll stick with Nico O’Reilly at left-back, but I hope someone braver than me is willing to put their name to the Burn proposal.
With Quansah suspended, I would go with Konsa in the cursed right-back role and recall Stones alongside Guehi. In fact, I would go with that even if Quansah was available; Konsa is more experienced and accomplished at right-back than Quansah, while Stones remains a top-class central defender, as he showed with a huge contribution as a substitute against Mexico.
Even if James is fit, maybe keep him in reserve and bring him on at right-back if it gets to the point where more quality going forward is needed.
The rest of the team picks itself at this point.
Saka still isn’t firing on all cylinders, but he did a good job setting up Jude Bellingham’s first goal on Sunday. Gordon played so well in that game — among England’s best of the rest after the outstanding Jordan Pickford and Bellingham.
Carl Anka
The majority of the starting XI now picks itself.
It would be unwise to break up the midfield partnership of Elliot Anderson and Declan Rice. Bellingham has made a mockery of any suggestions that he should be dropped for Morgan Rogers. Gordon has nudged ahead of Marcus Rashford as the starting left-winger and Saka — even with his Achilles issue — is more effective than Madeuke.
I would advise against leaving out those at risk of receiving a yellow-card suspension for the semi-final against Argentina or Switzerland. Start your best players and try to get things sorted within 90 minutes.
The concerns are whether you attempt to play James again and whether you change up the centre-back partnership. Konsa has had a shaky tournament, so I would suggest bringing in Stones to try to deal with Haaland and possibly help England’s build-up play in the first phase.
If James can play 15 minutes, let’s save those for the final quarter of the game. Start Spence for his recovery pace and derring-do in a one-v-one duel. The Tottenham man isn’t quite a cult hero for this team, but I don’t think they’d be in the quarter-finals without him.
Cerys Jones
How lovely to have finally stopped arguing with myself over who starts on the wings.
After Gordon’s performance against Mexico — in which I was equally impressed with his defensive work rate — he keeps his place on the left. Saka’s defensive nous compared to Madueke, and the fact he looks closer to his usual self (not to mention the extra 45 minutes rest he gained on Sunday from being substituted after Quansah’s dismissal) mean he starts on the right.
Harry Kane, Bellingham, Anderson and Rice obviously keep their places — there is a risk of Bellingham or Rice picking up a yellow card and a semi-final suspension, but it would be a far greater risk for England to leave any of the above out.
It was good of Quansah to add a little more clarity to the right-back situation by ruling himself out via that red card.
I imagine Tuchel will want to bring James back into the line-up immediately, but I would rather start Konsa at right-back and have Guehi and Stones in the centre of defence. Stones adds some height as well as experience, and I’m leaning on a faint hope that the City duo’s knowledge of Haaland can help England keep him quiet.
O’Reilly has shown he has the defensive nous and pace to do a job as England’s more advanced full-back. Spence is a good substitution to make if England need another injection of pace and to chase the game; on the flip side, James can come on to add some calm and control if they’re trying to see a win over the line.
Stuart James
Oli challenged us all with that Big Dan Burn suggestion… and I’m really tempted to say the Newcastle man should start. But I’m not brave enough to put it in writing. Actually, it’s more a case that I’m not sure O’Reilly deserves to be left out, plus he offers more from an attacking point of view than Burn — at least from open play.
That said (you can tell I’m tying myself in knots here), Alexander Sorloth, who is a 6ft 5in (196cm) striker but plays on the right wing for Norway, is a brilliant ‘out-ball’ for them because of his size. I was at the round of 32 game against Ivory Coast, and when goalkeeper Orjan Nyland had the ball, his team-mates were gesturing for him to hit Sorloth on a big diagonal. Still, I’m sticking with O’Reilly.
Now for the other 10 positions…
Well, there are only two to discuss, really – right-back and centre-back.
Konsa would be my choice for the poisoned chalice that is right-back. As for centre-back, I’d go with Stones. As others have pointed out, he knows Haaland inside out. That doesn’t mean he’ll be able to stop him, but it should at least help, plus he’s not at this World Cup just for his dancing (as impressive as that is).
The rest of the team picks itself after Mexico, which is nice to be able to write.
