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Wing wizards or worries? England and Norway have choices to make out wide
Norway squad
- Full squad
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1 Orjan NYLAND Goalkeeper
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2 Morten Thorsby Midfielder
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3 Kristoffer AJER Defender
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4 Leo OSTIGARD Defender
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5 David MOLLER WOLFE Defender
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6 Patrick BERG Midfielder
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7 Alexander SORLOTH Forward
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8 Sander BERGE Midfielder
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9 Erling HAALAND Forward
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10 Martin ODEGAARD Midfielder
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11 Jorgen STRAND LARSEN Forward
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12 Sander TANGVIK Goalkeeper
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13 Egil SELVIK Goalkeeper
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14 Fredrik AURSNES Midfielder
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15 Fredrik Andre BJORKAN Defender
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16 Marcus HOLMGREN PEDERSEN Defender
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17 Torbjorn HEGGEM Defender
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18 Kristian Thorstvedt Midfielder
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19 Thelo AASGAARD Midfielder
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20 Antonio NUSA Forward
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21 Andreas SCHJELDERUP Midfielder
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22 Oscar BOBB Midfielder
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23 Jens Petter HAUGE Midfielder
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24 Sondre LANGAS Defender
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25 Henrik FALCHENER Defender
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26 Julian RYERSON Forward
England squad
- Full squad
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1 Jordan PICKFORD Goalkeeper
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2 Ezri KONSA Defender
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3 Nico OREILLY Defender
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4 Declan RICE Midfielder
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5 John STONES Defender
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6 Marc GUEHI Defender
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7 Bukayo SAKA Forward
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8 Elliot ANDERSON Midfielder
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9 Harry KANE Forward
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10 Jude BELLINGHAM Midfielder
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11 Marcus RASHFORD Forward
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12 Trevoh CHALOBAH Defender
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13 Dean Henderson Goalkeeper
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14 Jordan HENDERSON Midfielder
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15 Dan BURN Defender
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16 Kobbie MAINOO Midfielder
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17 Morgan ROGERS Midfielder
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18 Anthony GORDON Forward
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19 Ollie WATKINS Forward
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20 Noni MADUEKE Forward
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21 Eberechi EZE Midfielder
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22 Ivan TONEY Forward
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23 James TRAFFORD Goalkeeper
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24 Reece JAMES Defender
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25 Djed SPENCE Defender
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26 Jarell QUANSAH Defender
Ahead of England's 2026 World Cup quarter-final against Norway, attention will inevitably fall on the star strikers Harry Kane and Erling Haaland, but the article argues that the more consequential selection decisions concern the wingers on each side. Neither manager — England's Thomas Tuchel nor Norway's Ståle Solbakken — has yet settled on a preferred wide pairing, and neither team has finished a match this summer with the same wide forwards who started it. With the strikers a known quantity, the effectiveness of the wingers who supply them could ultimately decide the tie.
Tuchel has appeared undecided, rotating between Anthony Gordon and Marcus Rashford on the left and Arsenal's Noni Madueke and Bukayo Saka on the right, trying five of six possible combinations, with none of the four completing more than 57% of available minutes. Underlying data highlights their contributions: Gordon leads England for average ball-carry length (14.9m), Madueke for total distance carried per 90 (255.8m), and Saka ranks among the tournament's top creators from carries. Solbakken, by contrast, has been more structured, starting Antonio Nusa and Alexander Sørloth in three of four first-team matches before turning to Andreas Schjelderup and Oscar Bobb, with all four of the Norwegian wide players' assists coming from the left — meaning England's right-back must cut off the supply to Haaland.
In short
- Wingers, not strikers, may decide England's quarter-final with Norway.
- Tuchel remains undecided, having tried five winger combinations.
- Norway's wide threat comes entirely from the left flank.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
The tactical uncertainty around winger selection suggests the match could turn on which manager better resolves this decision. Neither team has found its ideal combination, and the underlying data reveals meaningful differences in carry distance, ball progression, and creative contribution. For England, cutting off Norway's left-side supply line to Haaland becomes critical; for Solbakken, finding the right pairing to support his striker could unlock the attacking fluency he has sought throughout the tournament. The manager who makes the better selection call here gains a genuine strategic advantage.
The case against
Whilst winger rotation reflects managerial caution or indecision, it is unlikely to prove decisive between two world-class strikers. Kane and Haaland have historically demonstrated the ability to impose their quality irrespective of how seamlessly their supporting cast functions. A striker of Haaland's calibre requires only occasional service to be devastating; a Kane will find openings through his intelligence and positioning. The article's focus on winger minutiae risks missing the fundamental reality that elite strikers determine major tournament outcomes.
Explained simply
England and Norway meet in a World Cup quarter-final with both managers still undecided about their preferred wide attacking options. Whilst attention typically falls on star strikers Harry Kane and Erling Haaland, the performance of the wingers could ultimately determine the outcome of the match.
England's Thomas Tuchel has repeatedly rotated his wide players, alternating between Gordon and Rashford on the left and Madueke and Saka on the right throughout the tournament. This suggests Tuchel has not yet found his ideal combination to support Kane's attacking play.
Norway's Ståle Solbakken has been more consistent with his selections but remains adaptable. A key factor for England is that Norway's wide players have primarily assisted from the left flank, placing significant defensive responsibility on England's right-back to contain Haaland.
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