Tuchel fears some of Haaland’s heroes as England seek to prove themselves against Norway | 2026 World Cup

Tas Thomas Tuchel remembers, he was the only one to choose the award. He had led Chelsea to Champions League glory in 2020-21 when the German was published Sports Bild appointed its coach for the season, should have given it to him. “Yes, there was no way out,” said the England coach, smiling. “Because if Jürgen Klopp wins at the same time the Charity Shield they give him…”

The line is delivered in trademark style: deadpan, without a twinkle in his eye and it’s especially funny to imagine Klopp’s reaction when he read it. What happened next for Tuchel was no laughing matter. As part of the deal, he gave an interview Sports Bild and during it he joked about how he “would have no problem” bringing Erling Haaland to Chelsea and playing him up front alongside Romelu Lukaku.

Haaland’s club at the time, Borussia Dortmund, were not happy and Tuchel found himself having to apologize to them. “I always need to apologize,” said Tuchel. “They don’t get my jokes.”

Tuchel had other problems related to Haaland. 2019-20, when Tuchel was in charge at Paris Saint-Germain, saw him score both goals in Dortmund’s 2-1 Champions League first-leg win. PSG turned it around and it ended 3-2 on aggregate. It didn’t go too well for Tuchel in 2022-23 when he was at Bayern Munich and Haaland went to Manchester City. Haaland scored in both legs of the Champions League quarterfinal, City progressing 4-1 on aggregate.

Tuchel has first-hand experience of how dangerous Haaland can be and has been reinforced. Because there is no doubt that Haaland will represent the biggest threat to England’s World Cup aspirations when they face Norway in the quarter-finals on Saturday in Miami.

Haaland had fun in this tournament. On the field, where he has scored seven goals in four games, including two that helped Norway win history by winning 2-1 against Brazil in the last 16. They have never reached this opportunity in the World Cup. And off the field, too.

The 25-year-old enjoyed a shopping trip in Dallas, for example, where she brought a cowboy hat and boots, as well as a crazy t-shirt. “You can kiss my Dallas,” it read. Haaland uploaded pictures on social media and is a symbol of the team approaching the England game in a certain light; everything to gain, nothing to lose.

That’s how Haaland wants to express it and there was a moment on Thursday when he was more than happy to press his opinion on the climate surrounding the game. “There are clear favorites out there and England is one of them,” he said. “So I’m thinking of all of you [in the media] it should oppress the English boys.”

Tuchel wants to fight this idea. He says: “Norway is doing very well. “But inside they know very well how good they are, they prove it. They destroyed a great, great, great nation. [in Brazil] on the main stage. And from then on, there is no such thing as favorites.

“I understand that the situation is a little easier [for Norway] and they can ride this wave. But we don’t think about this issue and I don’t see that our players are playing with fear. I don’t feel the weight of the shirt. And now we go. It doesn’t matter who’s on the other side, whether we’re favorites or not or the pressure is there.”

England felt the heat when they arrived in Miami. It will be the first real test of their ability to cope with hot temperatures with the mercury forecast to push to 34C at the start. England have so far played in air-conditioned stadiums in Dallas and Atlanta and in the rain in Boston, New Jersey and Mexico City.

Tuchel is confident that the warm-weather training he is undertaking, particularly the pre-tournament camp in Florida, will stand the players in good stead. It’s also very hot in Kansas City, where England has its bases. “When we got off the plane in Miami, we expected it to hurt,” said Tuchel. “Maybe we’re lucky and we get another dark cloud over the field and full rain. But science says we saved a lot of training in the heat. We haven’t lost that.”

Heat exists on a metaphorical level. It doesn’t need Haaland to open it. There is absolutely no sense that Tuchel or any of the players will take progress lightly. However, at the same time, the fans expect victory. The sentiment is based on global ratings and book value of various groups. It is a curse that England must work under.

Tuchel’s message is that it is time to remove the handbrake. Finding freedom behind the motto of the tournament so far. Clicking as the team did in the crucial qualifying game – a 5-0 win over Serbia in Belgrade.

Tuchel has thought well about who he is. He wants his England side to show some of the best qualities of the Premier League and be as honest as they often fail to be. On the other hand, he seems to have come to the conclusion that it is not possible to change the type of structures that are common in the club game. There is not enough time with the players. Does it matter if the results are there? If the big moments belong to England?

“We need to play better,” said Tuchel. “We need to spend more time in the enemy’s half. We’re fighting harder to beat a bigger enemy. We need to be better at deep coverage, high press. A lot is connected.

“Our identity is not very visible from a football point of view in this competition. We are struggling. It is not a matter of commitment. It is a matter of … we are a little stuck in thinking. We are thinking about a pass and it is two hours late. The gap is not there anymore. We are over-defending, over-thinking and we have to get rid of that.”

Tuchel will take the win anyway. One thing seems certain, Haaland must be stopped. “You can’t avoid focusing [on him]certainly not,” said Tuchel. “There is a lot of quality in his moments and you have to make decisions. He will always come in the second post so the question is when should you contact him.

“Some defenders like to stay zonal and get the jump first. Others like to go back and start fighting him down, physically – but then he pushes you to the side and gets a free header. If you stay zonal he jumps over you. He has all the weapons.”