EXCLUSIVE: Kirkland warns England cannot underestimate huge Norway test

England advanced to the quarter-finals with a 3-2 win at the Estadio Azteca in an instant classic in the early hours of Monday morning.

Jude Bellingham scored twice and Harry Kane netted a penalty for the Three Lions, who handed Mexico their first-ever World Cup loss at the iconic venue, located more than 7,000 feet above sea level.

The preamble was dominated by the conditions, the atmosphere, a late delay to kick-off before England had to then survive a Jarrell Quansah second-half red card.

But former international Kirkland feels they dealt with every obstacle thrown at them impeccably.

"I don't think people realise just how difficult those conditions are," Kirkland tells Flashscore. "When you're not used to them and people say, 'Well, they're fit, they're fit, they can get used to it'. It doesn't matter when you're not used to them.

"Having 80,000 fans in there, altitude, the heat, everything that's gone with it, the delays. But I thought they were magnificent, down to a man, and they needed to be.

"For them to get through the other night, things needed to drop, players needed to perform, everyone performed to the high standard, and they thoroughly deserved to go through. Everything just fell into place."

Mexico hadn't conceded a goal in the tournament before England arrived and were driven forward by raucous support, although it didn't deter England despite some unsure displays.

England made hard work of beating DR Congo in the round of 32 and Panama in the group stage, while they were stifled in a goalless draw with Ghana.

"I think the game suited us more because Mexico came at us," Kirkland reflects. "They play at a fast tempo and I think that suits England more in a way because of the pace we've got on the wings, that we can counter-attack.

"That game played right into our hands and we've seen that with the goals, the attacking, the counter-attacking, and then the last half an hour the defending that the whole team had to do.

"They thoroughly deserved to go through, one of the best fixtures you'll see, but it won't mean anything unless we back it up again."

Sky is the limit for Bellingham

Every England player left it all out on the Azteca turf throughout, and no one more so than Bellingham.

The Real Madrid star rose to the occasion with two goals in 98 first-half seconds and covered every blade of grass, including making a superb back-post intervention.

"He's got another 10 years at least at the top level," Kirkland says when quizzed on Bellingham's ceiling. "He can do whatever he wants to do. You've got to be lucky. You've got to stay clear of injuries.

"You've got to stay in form as well. You've got to play well to stay in this England team and he's probably our player of the tournament at the minute."

Bellingham has forged an almost telepathic connection with talisman Kane, with the pair accounting for 10 of England's 11 goals at this World Cup.

No other nation in the tournament has more than that 90.9 per cent share and Kirkland puts their impressive double act down to relentless work in training. 

"That comes from talent, but it comes from work as well. They work on that in training. They know each other's games inside out.

"Looking at the tournament, there aren't too many better partnerships than that up front. We're going to need them to both perform.

"Harry's scored goals, Jude has. If you want to win World Cups, you've got to score goals, but also defensively, you've got to be strong as well."

Proven Pickford

Kirkland's praise wasn't just reserved for England's outfielders.

Goalkeeper Jordan Pickford faced light criticism for the goal he conceded against DR Congo as he was beaten at his near post.

However, the Everton stopper responded by standing tall in Mexico's cauldron, making two flying saves to deny Raul Jimenez and commanding his area with five punches.

"The one thing with Jordan is he won't be bothered (about criticism)," Kirkland says. "Jordan's probably been with a player at the last two or three major tournaments that England have been to. He proved that again the other night.

"I don't think he's done too badly. People talk about the goal the other night (against DR Congo), the near post. It happens."

He added: "When needed the other night in a stadium where you need your keeper to be big and strong, he was. And he commanded his area brilliantly, made some brilliant saves as well and did what he needed to do for the team.

"He's confident. I know some people get wound up sometimes with the way he goes around things. But that's him. That's what makes him tick. And if he's got to do more of that for us to win the World Cup, crack on."

Haaland's Norway a 'massive test'

England will need Pickford to be in top form again on Saturday when they come up against a Norway side on a journey of their own.

Before England's victory, they conquered five-time champions Brazil, with hero Haaland scoring twice to propel them into their first-ever World Cup quarter-final.

Norway have caught the eye and can be forgiven for finishing second in their group behind France, and Kirkland has long sensed the danger they pose.

"People probably won't believe me, but my picks before the tournament were France, England and Norway. I said, 'Be careful of Norway'. They are a very good team.

"This will be another massive test. But on paper, we have got better players than them. But it doesn't just come down to that. You've got to play as a team and they play as a team."

Haaland is England's immediate threat in Miami, having tallied seven World Cup goals alongside France's Kylian Mbappe, who both trail the mercurial Argentina star Lionel Messi by one.

The Manchester City striker is backed by a talented supporting cast containing the likes of Martin Odegaard, Antonio Nusa and Sander Berge placed in a structured system.

For Kirkland, the key for England's success has to be cutting the supply line to Haaland, although it is easier said than done.

"Norway have always been a strong team over the years," he says. "This team they've got now, they play for each other. But we're going to have to stop the supply to him. That's the biggest thing.

"You can't let him get space because he can do damage. We've seen that with his second goal the other night where he's finished from near enough the edge of the box."

Most of England's Premier League corps are fully aware of the ruthlessness of Haaland and how he can suddenly come alive in games despite appearing isolated.

His involvement against Brazil pre-78 minutes was limited, yet he came away with two high-class goals with just 30 touches, with just three coming in the box.

"You can't give him a minute's rest," Kirkland warns of Haaland. "He looks as though he's doing nothing at times and he's just standing there, but then, bang, he's in behind you, or he gets the ball.

"The players will be thinking, 'We've got to be on top of our game here' because to stop him, everyone knows what he's about. His goals are phenomenal.

"So there'll be no England player thinking, 'Oh, we'll be OK here'. They'll be thinking, 'If we aren't on our game, he'll destroy us'."

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