MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Despite nominally playing the same position, and despite both being high-end goalscorers, England striker Harry Kane said his game is so different from Erling Haaland’s that it’s impossible to compare the two.
“I know we’re both seen as strikers, but two totally different positions, if I’m being honest,” Kane said, asked about Norway’s leading man the day before the two countries face off in a World Cup quarterfinal. “Erling’s been incredible. Physically he’s a machine, he’s a beast, he’s finishing at the highest level and obviously his goalscoring record speaks for itself.
“I see myself as a different player. Although I score the same goals, I like to touch the ball a little more, be involved in play a little bit more, but also can play as an out-and-out [No.] 9. I don’t think it’s one to compare ourselves. I respect him a lot as a player, as a fellow professional.”
That does, in some way, get at the heart of the question for England going into Friday, which is how to contain Haaland.
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Given how much impact he can make with so few touches, which is to say that he’s heavily dependent on good service, the answer to that problem might be about Norway’s other players just as much as it is about Haaland.
While England can stack its defensive line with big, tall bodies — this might be a game for John Stones or Dan Burn, both of whom came on as substitutes and performed excellently in the Round of 16 — players like Martin Ødegaard, Sander Berge and Alexander Sørloth may factor just as heavily into manager Thomas Tuchel’s plans.
“Really dangerous team,” Kane said. “Some fantastic players. I think really well coached, both with the ball, without the ball. Obviously it’s our job to try and find weaknesses in their structure. We want to try and impose our game tomorrow but we’re playing a team with a lot of great players who are riding this wave.”
Asked about Donald Trump’s recent comments praising him, Kane said the two played golf together about 18 months ago in Palm Beach.
“When the president invites you somewhere, it was a pretty surreal experience just to meet him. Played golf with him. He golfs pretty good to be honest,” Kane said. “I hope I can play golf as well as him when I’m [his] age. Pretty unique experience. Was grateful he invited me to play for sure.”
Marc Guehi (hamstring), Declan Rice (illness) and Reece James (hamstring) all participated in training for England on Friday. Jordan Henderson, who is out the rest of the tournament after getting surgery on an arm injury suffered while celebrating the Round of 16 win over Mexico, was the only England player not to train.
Tuchel said he had been given no explanation from FIFA on Jarrell Quansah’s red-card suspension, which was increased from one game to two.
