Haaland relishing ‘special’ World Cup showdown with England

Erling Haaland said facing England, the land of his birth, in the World Cup quarter-finals is extra special as the aims to extend Norway’s historic run into the last four.

In his first major international tournament the Manchester City striker has propelled his country to the last eight by scoring seven times in four appearances, including a memorable double to beat Brazil in the last 16.

Haaland was born in England as his dad Alfe Inge Haaland was playing for Leeds at the time and has spent the last four seasons at City where he has become the poster boy of the Premier League.

“It’s a special game, yeah, definitely. I think for me it’s super special, because I play in England and I was born in England, and you also play against team-mates and everything,” Haaland told reporters in Miami. “It’s a funny game and it’s gonna be nice.”