Sky Sports legend backs surprise England star to stop Erling Haaland at the World Cup

Jeff Stelling believes Thomas Tuchel will make a shock change to his England starting XI when they play Erling Haaland’s Norway in the World Cup quarter-final.

England have advanced to the last-eight of the tournament after defeating co-hosts Mexico 3-2 in the early hours of Monday morning.

It was a wild game at the Azteca, with the Three Lions playing with 10 men for much of the second-half after Jarell Quansah was sent off for a dangerous challenge on Jesus Gallardo.

England dug their heels in and held on for the victory, with Tuchel praised for the decision to switch to a back-five formation and subbing on Dan Burn and Djed Spence in the 75th minute.

Burn’s impact was very notable, with the Newcastle United star making eight defensive contributions in his 26 minute cameo, including six clearances – a World Cup record for a player subbed on at that late a stage.

More impressively, this was the towering centre-back’s first appearance at the World Cup and indeed his major international tournament debut.

While his inclusion in the England squad divided fans and pundits, it is now perfectly clear why Tuchel picked him, and former Sky Sports presenter Stelling thinks the 34-year-old may have a bigger role to play.

Only France have scored more at the 2026 World Cup than Norway, and after his brace against Brazil, Haaland is leading the race for the Golden Boot, tied with Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe on seven goals

Stopping the Manchester City striker will be no easy task but speaking on talkSPORT, Stelling thinks Burn is the man to do it: ‘I had this theory, that when we come around to playing Norway with the aerial threat of Erling Haaland…

‘Dan Burn came on last night and everyone who watched the game will tell you Dan Burn was fantastic when he came on.

‘And Adrian [Durham, talkSPORT presenter] mentioned that might be the only 25 minutes of World Cup football that he might get in his career.

‘Well, I think he might play against Norway, because he has the physicality to play against Erling Haaland.’

At 6ft 7in tall, Burn is one of the few players who can dwarf Haaland (6ft 5in) and Stelling went onto highlight his outstanding personal record against the Norwegian No.9.

In the eight games Haaland has played against the Magpies defender over the last four years, he has only found the back of the net once.

And Tuchel will have to consider shuffling his defence around for the quarter-final, with Quansah suspended and Reece James an injury doubt.

But for now, Burn is just enjoying the occasion, saying after the Mexico win: ‘I don’t know if we had planned for this scenario – but I knew that I was being brought here for a certain reason.

‘I wasn’t going to start but there would be opportunities in the game where we need to see a game out or go for a goal that I was going to get it. I have been desperate to get on the pitch, I didn’t want to leave the World Cup without getting on there.

‘What he [Tuchel] expected from me, knowing my height, knowing how I defend, it’s blocking shots, blocking crosses, it was really trying to grind it out and I think that shows the character in the team.

‘I am very proud to play for England at a World Cup, I never thought I’d be saying that.’

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