Norway vs England Predictions

• There have been at least three goals scored in all five of Norway’s World Cup games
• England have scored at least twice in four of their five World Cup games
• The Three Lions have six wins in their last seven games

Norway await England in last eight

England and Norway meet in the quarter finals of the World Cup on Saturday night in a battle between two sides who have just secured historic results.

The Three Lions had struggled in the early stages of the competition but they produced one of their greatest ever performances at the Estadio Azteca in the early hours of Monday morning to knock out co-hosts Mexico.

El Tri had lost just two of their previous 89 competitive matches at the imposing stadium but England found a way to get the job done, despite losing Jarell Quansah to a straight red card early in the second half.

Norway’s last 16 victory was perhaps more impressive. The Scandinavian nation, with a population of around 5.6million, downed record champions Brazil 2-0 at the MetLife Stadium to reach the last eight of a World Cup for the first time, thanks to a pair of late goals from Manchester City’s Erling Haaland.

England come into the game as the favourites and deservedly so. That win over Mexico should provide a huge confidence boost after a couple of sub-par displays and they have a stronger squad than the Norwegians, but the best angle for our main bet may instead lie in the goal markets.

Over 2.5 goals the standout bet

England are odds-on to win inside 90 minutes but the better option could be taking the slightly higher price of 10/11 on over 2.5 goals, as both of these teams have been strong in attack over the course of the tournament.

Over 2.5 goals has been a winning bet in all five of Norway’s games and they have scored 12 themselves. Three of England’s games have featured at least three goals and they have scored two or more goals themselves in four of their matches. The two games that did go under 2.5 goals were against sides who set up to defend, and Norway have no need to adopt that kind of approach with Haaland as the focal point of their attack.

Both teams have scored in each of Norway’s last seven games and England have conceded five goals at the World Cup so both of these teams can can contribute, and between them they should be able to combine for at least three goals.

England can edge another five-goal thriller

England should come into this game full of confidence after seeing off Mexico but Norway are the team in the better shape.

The Vikings didn’t have it easy against Brazil and keeper Orjan Nyland was called into action on a number of occasions, including an early penalty save, but they didn’t have to work quite as hard as England – who were forced to defend for virtually the entirety of the second half after Quansah’s dismissal.

Norway also took the chance to rest a number of players in their final group stage assignment against France as they had already qualified, while England haven’t had that opportunity.

England will also have to cope without the suspended Quansah and injury victim Reece James, Jordan Henderson is also out after suffering a wrist injury in England’s post-Mexico euphoria.

While Thomas Tuchel has a few selection issues to contend with, Norway counterpart Stale Solbakken has a fully-fit squad for the last eight tie and they don’t even have any players at risk of a suspension but England should still have the edge in terms of quality and a bold play on a 3-2 win for the Three Lions is the correct score prediction.

Norway have scored at least twice in all of their games aside from the 4-1 defeat to France when they fielded a weakened side. Meanwhile, England have conceded twice in two of their World Cup wins so we could be set for another thriller this weekend.

England skipper Harry Kane and Norway star Haaland are the two obvious contenders for an anytime goal and the latter looks the best option, at a slightly better price.

Haaland has seven goals in four games at the World Cup and he is in the midst of an incredible streak for Norway. The Manchester City forward has scored in his last 14 competitive international appearances, with 27 goals in total, and he can extend that run against England in Miami.