England vs Norway, Argentina vs Swiss: Who will reach World Cup semi-finals?
England and Norway will meet in a high-profile World Cup quarter-final in Miami. The match has attracted global attention because it brings together two of football’s most dangerous strikers, Harry Kane and Erling Haaland.
Kane has once again played a key role in England’s campaign. The Bayern Munich forward scored six goals and helped his side survive a difficult 3-2 victory over Mexico in the round of 16 despite England finishing the match with 10 men.
Norway have been one of the biggest surprises of the tournament. Led by Haaland’s seven goals, they reached the quarter-finals for the first time and impressed fans with victories that included the elimination of Brazil.
Norway coach Stale Solbakken stressed the importance of the match. He said, “Every game has been the most important (in history) for Norwegian football, especially in the knockout rounds, so this is the third time it is the most important game.”
Kane praised Haaland before the showdown. He called the Norwegian striker “a beast” but explained that both players have different styles despite scoring similar goals.
England also received positive news before the match. Declan Rice, Marc Guehi and Reece James returned to training after dealing with illness and injuries, giving coach Thomas Tuchel more options.
Tuchel welcomed their return and said, “The next step is to win a quarter-final.” The game is expected to be physically demanding, with temperatures forecast to rise above 40 Celsius.
Also read: Spain beat Belgium 2-1 in the World Cup
Meanwhile, defending champions Argentina are preparing for a difficult quarter-final against Switzerland. Although Argentina started strongly, their recent knockout matches exposed weaknesses as Cape Verde and Egypt pushed them close to elimination.
Lionel Messi continues to lead Argentina with his experience and creativity. The 39-year-old has already scored a record 21 World Cup goals across six tournaments and remains the team’s biggest source of inspiration.
Switzerland, however, have earned respect for their disciplined performances. Under the leadership of Granit Xhaka, they hope to take advantage of any signs of fatigue within the Argentine squad.
Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni acknowledged the challenge ahead. He said, “They have very experienced players. They are strong. So it will be a tough opponent, that is for sure.”
Scaloni also backed Messi to continue taking penalties despite missing two during the tournament. He said, “It wouldn’t even cross my mind to go and tell him not to [take the next penalty]. Let him do whatever he wants.”
In another major quarter-final, Spain secured a dramatic 2-1 victory over Belgium. Mikel Merino scored in the 88th minute after a goalkeeping mistake to send Spain into the semi-finals.
Spain will now face France in a highly anticipated semi-final clash. Coach Luis de la Fuente described the contest as “a final before the final” because of the strength and quality of both teams.
England have strong momentum, but Norway’s confidence and Haaland’s form make them a real threat. A single moment from either striker could decide the match.
Argentina remain favourites because of Messi’s leadership and experience. However, Switzerland’s organisation and discipline could make this one of the toughest tests Argentina have faced in the tournament.
Spain’s late victory showed their resilience under pressure. Their semi-final against France could be one of the most exciting matches of the World Cup.
