Norway pulled off a surprise upset by defeating five-time champions Brazil to reach the World Cup quarter-finals for the 'thu nhat' time. Haaland shined with a brace, bringing his tournament tally to 7 goals, matching Kylian Mbappe's record and trailing only Lionel Messi, who leads the World Cup 2026 Golden Boot race with 8 goals.

Erling Haaland (right) scores Norway's opening goal past Gabriel Magalhaes during Brazil's 1-2 loss in the World Cup 2026 round of 16 at New York/New Jersey Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey, US on 5/7. Photo: AP

Speaking on Sky Sports on 8/7, Neville described Haaland as a particularly dangerous striker. "It is very difficult to stop Haaland," the former Man Utd defender stated. "At times, he can be almost invisible in a match, with few touches, but he only needs 'mot' moment to explode."

Neville was particularly impressed with Haaland's performance against Brazil. He noted: "'Hai' goals were top-class, typical of his style. The 'thu nhat' was a movement across Gabriel followed by a header. The other was just 'mot' touch and a powerful finish, enough to beat one of the best goalkeepers in the world, Alisson Becker."

According to Neville, containing Haaland for 90 minutes, or even 120 minutes if the game goes to extra time, is no simple task. Despite this, the 52-year-old former defender still rates England higher than Norway. "I do not think it is complacency. England should be considered favorites against Norway, but it will certainly be a very difficult match," he said.

The former Man Utd defender believes Norway possesses a quality attack with players capable of creating game-changing moments, with Haaland being the most dangerous spearhead. Therefore, England needs to play defensively solid, similar to most of their match against Mexico, while emphasizing the importance of defending against aerial balls.

"If they concede from set-pieces, all previous good performances could become meaningless. They just need to fix a few small details, as England's defense has been almost perfect," Neville stated.

Jude Bellingham slides to celebrate a goal during England's 3-2 victory over Mexico in the World Cup 2026 round of 16 at Azteca Stadium, Mexico on 5/7. Photo: AP

Beyond his warnings for the defense, Neville highly praised Jude Bellingham for his brilliant performance against Mexico. The 22-year-old midfielder became the 'thu nhat' player to score 'hai' goals at Azteca Stadium in a World Cup since Argentine legend Diego Maradona achieved it against England in 1986.

Neville revealed that before the tournament, he considered Harry Kane the only world-class player in the England squad, with Bellingham and Declan Rice only close to that level. However, his view has changed. "In this tournament, Bellingham has surpassed all limits. What he showed against Mexico was a comprehensive, truly phenomenal performance," the former player, born in 1975, expressed.

Reflecting on the victory against Mexico in the round of 16, Neville described it as a resilient performance by England amidst numerous challenges. The former Man Utd defender believes the "Three Lions" overcame pressure from the Azteca Stadium atmosphere, difficult playing conditions, conceding a goal, a red card, and crucial turning points to secure their spot in the quarter-finals.

Neville admitted he had concerns about England's defensive capabilities but believes they showed significant improvement against Mexico. The team maintained better spacing, wingers provided effective defensive support, and the backline remained solid. He observed that despite Mexico having more possession, England controlled the game through their organization and demonstrated resilience when needing to counter-attack in the second half.

Highlights: England 3-2 Mexico.

Hong Duy (according to Sky Sports)