MIAMI, July 10 (Reuters): The six decades since England's lone World Cup triumph will come into sharper focus as they head towards Sunday's (3:00 am as per BST) quarter-final against a Norway team with one of the best strikers in the game but happy to embrace the underdog role.
Erling Haaland has been one of the stars of the tournament with his seven goals taking Norway into uncharted territory at their first World Cup for 28 years -- his double against Brazil in the last 16 already the stuff of internet memes.
England will think they have more overall quality and are far more familiar with this stage of major tournaments, having reached the quarter-finals or better at three World Cups and two European Championships in the last eight years.
The 1966 World Cup triumph on home soil remains their only major international title, however, and expectations back home reach fever pitch every time they make the business end of a tournament.
Norway have clearly decided that this could work to their advantage with midfielder Kristian Thorstvedt on Thursday saying his team "don't have much to lose" and Haaland looking to enlist the media to help ramp up the pressure on England.
"I think there are some clear favourites out there, England is one of them, so I think all of you should put every single pressure on the English lads," the 25-year-old English-born striker told reporters with a grin.
The charismatic Haaland is very much a known quantity to Saturday's opposition after four years in the Premier League and has five current and former clubmates in the England squad.
"We'll treat them with the same respect we show every opponent," said one of them, defender John Stones.
"We know what they've got, especially with Erling (but) we've put in some great defensive performances so far."
Norway's run to the last eight has been about more than Haaland and playmaker Martin Odegaard, however, with a tight bond in the squad manifesting itself in their performances.
"There's very little negative energy in the group," midfielder Morten Thorsby said. "We've been together a long time, and we have a very good time together."
England showed that they too have developed a strong team spirit when, despite being reduced to 10 men, they beat co-hosts Mexico in the last 16 with a backs-against-the-wall win rated by many as the country's finest at a World Cup.
The dramatic victory took its toll, however, with Jarell Quansah handed a two-match ban for his red card, leaving coach Thomas Tuchel pondering a paucity of options at right back.
In captain Harry Kane, though, England have their own world-class striker looking to add to his tournament tally of six goals at Miami Stadium, while midfielder Jude Bellingham has really come into his own at this World Cup.
"They have a good collective," Thorstvedt said of England. "But we have individual players who can decide the big moments, and I feel that's what top-level football is.
Meanwhile, Argentina and Switzerland meet again in the World Cup knockout stage on Sunday's (7:00 am as per BST) carrying memories of a tense match 12 years ago in Brazil, when Angel Di Maria's extra-time strike finally broke Swiss resistance and sent Lionel Messi's side through.
Much has changed since that round-of-16 clash in Sao Paulo.
Back then, Argentina were trying to balance the brilliance of Messi at his peak with the burden of ending a World Cup drought stretching nearly three decades. Switzerland, meanwhile, had become regular tournament participants but were still chasing a first quarter-final appearance since 1954.
Now, Argentina arrive as defending world champions after lifting the trophy at Qatar 2022, having also finished runners-up in 2014. Messi, now 39, is no longer at his athletic peak, yet the tournament still seems to revolve around him.
The captain inspired Argentina's remarkable 3-2 comeback victory over Egypt in the last 16 after his side trailed 2-0 with 11 minutes remaining.
"We suffered a lot again, but this is the World Cup. Every game is going like this," Messi said. "This group never gives up and keeps trying until the end."
Switzerland, however, are making history of their own. Murat Yakin's side reached the quarter-finals for the first time in 72 years by defeating Colombia on penalties after a goalless draw, and believe they stand a chance against the title holders.
Only three players remain from the 2014 meeting: Messi, Swiss captain Granit Xhaka, and defender Ricardo Rodriguez.
"It is a privilege to be in this type of era with him," Xhaka, 33, said of Messi.
"We played against him when we lost in 2014 in Brazil. We know the quality, what he has, but all the team as well."
