I have played with Erling Haaland and this is the only way to stop him, it is different from Harry Kane.
How does one stop Erling Haaland?
It’s a problem that a lot of defenders have had to deal with and most still haven’t fixed it.
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This is proven by the fact that the Norway international has an absurd record of 162 goals in 198 games for Manchester City in all competitions.
Brazil were the latest team to be burdened by Haaland, as his two goals in 11 minutes secured a shock 2-1 win over Norway in their World Cup round of 16 match.
Haaland’s first was a nod to his goal, waiting for the perfect moment for Gabriel to come out and head home.
Gabriel, who has started a rivalry with Haaland in the Premier League, lay on his back following the opening game, knowing that his long-time enemy had defeated him.
The 25-year-old’s second goal was more unusual as he latched on to an effort from outside the box close to the pitch and slotted past the onrushing Alisson.
In fact, both of Haaland’s goals underlined why he gives defenders nightmares.
However, it is possible to stop a man who many see as an unstoppable force.
How the Bodo/Glimt star found the formula to stop the rampaging Haaland
Odin Bjortuft was tasked with defending Haaland when Manchester City faced Norwegian side Bodo/Glimt in the Champions League last January.
On paper, it was a David versus Goliath battle.
According to Transfermarkt, Bodo’s club value is around £71million while City’s is worth an astronomical £1.22b.
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However, it was the underdogs who won 3-1 in front of a crowd of 8,016 at the Aspmyra Stadion in Bodo, a city north of the Arctic Circle.
Haaland, who played the entire tournament, was closely guarded by Bjortuft and fellow defender Jostein Gundersen.
The City star finished the game with three shots, but all of them missed the target.
Apart from playing with him, Bjortuft also spent time playing alongside Haaland when he was called up to Norway’s pre-World Cup camp in March.
“I think it’s difficult, there’s no doubt,” Bjortuft told talkSPORT.com exclusively when asked how to stop Haaland.
“He’s world class. He’s really good at timing when he’s on. If it’s a few minutes in the game, it’s a hat-trick.
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“As a defender you have to be aware of him at all times and watch closely. If you slip for a second then you are 1-0 down.
“I think it’s almost impossible to handle him alone. You have to work as a team and as defenders, you have to work together, maybe 2 against 1 against him, because his skills are crazy, really.
“It’s difficult but you have to do it as a team to stop him, not individually.
Bodo/Glimt becomes Europe’s darling with a legendary run
The win over City was just one moment of Bodo’s unforgettable Champions League campaign.
They finished the league stage with a 2-1 away semi-final win over Atletico Madrid before stunning Inter Milan 5-2 on aggregate in the play-offs.
Sadly, Bodo’s Champions League run ended in the round of 16 at the hands of Sporting, but the run of results proved that the Norwegian side belong in Europe.
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Bjortuft’s advice will certainly be welcomed by Ezri Konsa and Marc Guehi, who looks likely to be England’s full-back against Norway in the World Cup quarter-finals on Saturday.
Thankfully, Konsa, who plays for Aston Villa, was one of the select few who successfully managed to keep Haaland quiet.
In the five league games against Villa in which Konsa played, Haaland scored only once in 406 minutes.
Guehi will also know all of Haaland’s tactics as the two have been teammates at City since the former joined Crystal Palace in January.
Bjortuft breaks down how Norway can lock up Kane
Unfortunately for Norway, their defenders will have to try to contain England’s goal machine in Harry Kane.
After a season with Bayern Munich where he scored 61 goals in 51 games, Kane has continued where he left off, scoring six times for England in this World Cup.
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But trying to protect Kane is a completely different puzzle compared to stopping Haaland.
Bjortuft has yet to face Kane in his career, but having watched many of his games for club and country, he has a good idea of what it would take.
“It’s a really big difference,” Bjortuft said.
“Harry goes down a lot, so you have to leave some of the responsibility to the midfielders sometimes.
“But it’s the same [as with Haaland]. When he gets the ball, you really have to be aware of what’s going on around you. He is not just a goal scorer, he places his players on the sides one by one against the goalkeeper. When he falls, you have to be careful.
“And if he can get an inch of space inside the 16-yard box, he’s probably going to score.
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“You have to get very close to him and take him the other way to Haaland. Haaland is really explosive and you have to control the space a little bit. Harry, you have to tighten him up so he doesn’t open his right or left foot.”
England vs Norway will be live on talkSPORT on Saturday at 10pm BST.
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