NEWYou can now listen to Pakinomist articles!
Saturday’s quarter-final match between England and Norway features the world’s most prolific strikers in Harry Kane and Erling Haaland.
So who is better? FOX Sports’ Javier Hernández and Peter Schmeichel shared their votes while acknowledging the quality of both players.
“Harry Kane,” Hernández said. “The difference is small. They are both great strikers all around, but definitely in my team I want an all-round player like Harry Kane. We saw that game against my home country. The way he played, the way England played, England is getting better every day. What Erling Haaland has done at his age is just incredible.”
At 25, Haaland has scored 62 goals in 54 career matches for Norway. For Manchester City, Haaland recorded 27 goals and eight assists in 35 Premier League games last season. Schmeichel, while keen to pick both, swayed his argument against the young goalscorer for Norway.
“Both,” Schmeichel said initially, before conceding, “I’ll take Haaland. The reason for that is that he’s younger and can play for many, many more years. But I have to say they’re different players and what they do for the team is so different.”
Kane’s six goals and Haaland’s seven in this World Cup both lead their teams at this World Cup, putting them firmly in the race for the Golden Boot. Norway reached their first ever World Cup quarter-final, while Kane took the title of England’s all-time World Cup goalscorer against Panama. It has been a historic tournament for both.
Norway’s attack also includes captain Martin Ødegaard and winger Antonio Nusa, who have contributed to their success. Ødegaard has three assists, while Nusa scored one of the tournament’s best goals against Ivory Coast.
Kane has his colleague Jude Bellingham alongside him, with the Real Madrid man scoring twice against Mexico. Kane also struggles all over the pitch and made a big block late on in England’s 2-1 win over DR Congo and also set a defensive shift against Mexico when the Three Lions were down to 10 men.
“Every time they need them,” Schmeichel said, “these are the guys who bring everything they need to (the field). I think Harry Kane is more of an all-around player. Erling Haaland is someone who is just happy to walk around, wait for the ball and when it comes, he executes.
“Harry goes a little bit deep, takes part in the game, assists for other players and is a much more mature striker in that sense, a very different striker. After that game (against Mexico), I think we all agreed that he is the best striker in the world, Harry Kane.”
