Manchester City fans who also support England are experiencing a unique dilemma as the Three Lions prepare to face Norway in the World Cup. The source of their apprehension is none other than City's own prolific striker, Erling Haaland, whose dominant form for Norway has many fearing for England's chances.
Haaland, aged 25, has established himself as one of the world's most feared forwards since joining Manchester City in 2022. He has already netted an impressive 105 Premier League goals in just 120 appearances for the club. His current World Cup campaign for Norway has only amplified these concerns, with the striker scoring seven goals in four games, including a brace in their recent victory over Brazil. This places him among the tournament's top scorers, vying with footballing giants like Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé, and England's own Harry Kane.
Emily Brobyn, a BBC Radio Manchester presenter covering Manchester City, encapsulated the sentiment, describing Haaland as "ruthless, rapid, and having the time of his life." She highlighted his unique ability to "hoodwink defenders" and his "fearlessness" as primary concerns for England fans. Brobyn suggested that to mitigate his threat, England might need to disrupt the link-up play between Haaland and key teammates like Martin Ødegaard, or simply "pray."
Lifelong City fan Paul Ruleman, 64, from Manchester, echoed these sentiments, noting Haaland's knack for scoring even when seemingly quiet during a game. "He's sometimes there not looking like he's doing much, and then all of a sudden, like the other night against Brazil he bangs in two great goals," Ruleman commented. Another apprehensive fan, Brian Mitchell, 68, also from Manchester, admitted to being "dead scared" and predicted Haaland could score a hat-trick against England.
While some City fans, such as Arpit Gupta, 37, from India, embrace Haaland's World Cup success as a positive sign for the upcoming club season, others like Lily Andrews from Manchester find themselves torn. Andrews expressed her desire for both an England win and a Haaland goal. Similarly, season ticket holder Mike Bath, who appreciates Haaland's efficiency for City, stated that while he wants England to win, he would rather see them eliminated by Haaland than any other opponent, highlighting the complex loyalties at play for these supporters.