Key events<\/p>\n
Pre-match postbag: the conditions. \u201cSilly hydration breaks eh, let\u2019s all boo vociferously. Get over it and grow up! (Not you specifically, Scott, just the increasingly vocal and ill-advised majority who think heatstroke is something you get after the tenth pint in Magaluf.) If the rules apply for one game they have to apply for every game, regardless of whether it\u2019s a rainy night in the North-east or a potentially life-threatening match in Miami. Yes, we all agree the breaks have been completely and cynically commercialised (quelle surprise), but they are obviously necessary in games like this\u201d \u2013 Julian Menz<\/p>\n
\u201cI hope England<\/a> trained for the absurd heat by playing walking football\u201d \u2013 Ian Copestake<\/p>\n \u201cIt seems they calculate \u2018feels like\u2019 differently in the USA. A Canadian \u2018humidex\u2019 calculator is frightening. It says 33C at 71% RH: the Humidex is: 47 (117F). Only medically supervised work can continue. They\u2019ll need a water break every five minutes – think of the ad revenue! Seriously, that sounds dangerous\u201d \u2013 Nigel in balmy 27C Toronto<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Thomas Tuchel talks to ITV. \u201cI hope [the players] feel good \u2026 I hope they feel prepared \u2026 now it\u2019s their moment \u2026 they know everything \u2026 it\u2019s time to let go and release our energy and give it a go \u2026 we need to play with freedom \u2026 all-in \u2026 that is what a quarter-final is for \u2026 Reece James is available but maybe not for 90 minutes \u2026 I\u2019d like to have him as an option from the bench \u2026 the goal is to stop their front line \u2026 height and physicality \u2026 we want to be strong from set pieces \u2026 we have a strong bench to finish the match off \u2026 spend more time in the opponent\u2019s half \u2026 especially in these conditions.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Pre-match postbag: Harry and Don. \u201cIn light of today\u2019s revelations about his golfing partners while Stateside, does Harry Kane\u2019s lucky mulligan for the penalty retake in England\u2019s opener against Croatia now not look very suspicious??? Of course it doesn\u2019t, but hey, let\u2019s get the excuses in early, in case England<\/a> go and win the whole bloody thing!\u201d \u2013 Justin Kavanagh<\/p>\n \u201cTrump is a man who has been found in a civil court case to have sexually abused E Jean Carroll (and has been accused of sexual abuse by numerous other women). As President of the United States, his record is demonising immigrants, carrying out illegal wars, tearing up environmental protections and overseas aid, and prioritising the interests of the super rich over those of anyone else. Choosing to play golf with him is a political choice\u201d \u2013 Corin Metcalfe<\/p>\n \u201cIf Bellingham gets a yellow, Kane only has to call on his mate Orange\u201d \u2013 Ian Copestake<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n England make two changes to the team that started against Mexico. Ezri Konsa takes the troubled right-back spot off the suspended Jarell Quansah, making room for John Stones in the centre of defence. In attack, Noni Madueke starts on the right ahead of Bukayo Saka. Jordan Pickford makes his 18th World Cup<\/a> appearance, breaking a record jointly held with Peter Shilton for most games played \u2060at the finals.<\/p>\n Ezri Konsa<\/a>Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a015.57 EDT<\/p>\n Norway make one change to their starting XI following the win over Brazil. Andreas Schjelderup, who set up both goals on Sunday, replaces Antonio Nusa, the only player in the Norway<\/a> squad on a booking.<\/p>\n Andreas Schjelderup<\/a>Share<\/a>The teams<\/p>\n Norway: Nyland, Ryerson, Ajer, Heggem, Wolfe, Odegaard, Berge, Berg, Sorloth, Haaland, Schjelderup. England: Pickford, Konsa, Stones, Guehi, O\u2019Reilly, Anderson, Rice, Madueke, Bellingham, Gordon, Kane. Referee: Clement Turpin (France).<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a015.42 EDT<\/p>\n Pre-match postbag: the Taylor letters. \u201cWith you 100% about Graham Taylor. He seemed out of his depth at the time but I think history has shown that he did the best he could what he was given. Of the three years he was in charge, he was without Paul Gascoigne for a good half of that time, he lost John Barnes in the \u201894 qualifiers lost Barnes to injury in the 94 qualifiers, had a lot of the Italia 90 team retire – Bryan Robson, Peter Shilton, Terry Butcher – or on their way out- Gary Lineker, Chris Waddle etc. Any fans moaning about whatever may happen later tonight would do good to remember an England<\/a> midfield once consisting of Andy Sinton, Carlton Palmer, Tony Daley and David Batty. RIP Graham\u201d \u2013 Dave Estherby<\/p>\n \u201cIn 2012, I saw Graham Taylor at Oslo airport. As he was walking to his flight, dozens of England fans showed enormous, genuine affection for him, and he responded graciously and generously. A great man. His travelling companion, Alan Green, had been disturbing everyone in the business class lounge by reading his contract out loud line-by-line and moaning\u201d \u2013 Andrew Goudie<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Feeling stressed ahead of kick-off? Good! What would the point of any of this be, if you simply didn\u2019t care? Just thank your lucky stars you\u2019re not lining up in the tunnel, waiting, contemplating, anticipating, possibly hyperventilating. Some players deal with this sort of thing better than others. Look!<\/p>\n \u2026 and while we\u2019re on the subject of photo galleries, this exercise in slit-scanning \u2013 a process which has a longer and more varied history in sports photography than you may imagine \u2013 is great fun as well.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n You won\u2019t need reminding that tonight\u2019s game could go to extra time and penalty kicks. So if it indeed goes all the way, what on earth should Harry Kane do if he wins the toss? Mo Salah has the answer \u2026<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n England have four players walking the disciplinary tightrope this evening. Jude Bellingham was booked against DR Congo, while Marc Guehi, Nico O\u2019Reilly and Declan Rice were all cautioned against Mexico. A yellow card for any of them tonight, and they\u2019ll miss the semi-final should England<\/a> get through. Norway have only one player on a yellow in winger Antonio Nusa. (Yellow cards were wiped at the start of the knockouts, and will be again after the quarters.)<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Early team news: Konsa at right-back, Madueke for Saka<\/p>\n Some early England<\/a> team news from David Hytner.<\/p>\n double quotation markThomas Tuchel is ready to play Ezri Konsa at right-back, with Reece James still not fully fit. John Stones is expected to come into central defence. On the right wing, it is set to be Noni Madueke rather than Bukayo Saka, who continues to struggle for 100 percent fitness.<\/p>\n Ezri Konsa comes in as the latest England right back. Photograph: Eddie Keogh\/The FA\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a015.07 EDT<\/p>\n Uefa have been throwing ersatz Super Bowl shapes at the Champions League final for a few years, and now Fifa are getting in on the act. Ellie Goulding, a big England<\/a> fan, will perform a half-time show this evening. Not sure how long that\u2019s scheduled to last. Factor in the hydration breaks and we could be here quite a while. \u201cIt\u2019s a precursor to what will come at the final maybe,\u201d deadpans David Hytner, upon breaking all of this news to me. \u201cGetting everyone ready for the idea.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n England have got a pretty good goalscorer of their own, of course. Harry Kane saw the Three Lions through the group easily enough with two against Croatia<\/a> and the clincher against Panama<\/a> (and the less said about the other game<\/a> the better) \u2026<\/p>\n \u2026 then in the knockouts, that goal against the DR Congo<\/a> and another at the Azteca<\/a>. It\u2019s been a campaign of fits and bursts really, but England are becoming masters of tournament football, and getting the job done. Another deep run is on.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a014.49 EDT<\/p>\n Norway\u2019s progress has been \u2013 this is not breaking news – all about Erling Haaland. Two goals against Iraq<\/a>. Another brace against Senegal<\/a>. A nice rest while the B team got some minutes against France<\/a>.<\/p>\n Then in the knockouts, Haaland notched a late winner against C\u00f4te d\u2019Ivoire<\/a>, before sending Norwegian bunnies Brazil out of the competition in swashbuckling style<\/a>. If Erling\u2019s on one, all bets are off.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n So how did we all get here? To tell the story properly, let\u2019s go back to the beginning and reacquaint ourselves with both squads. In truth, not too much has changed since then \u2026 other than we\u2019d need to crowbar in a bit about golf<\/a> at the end of the England page. Oh Harry.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Some more on the conditions \u2026 courtesy of David Hytner, our man live from the coal face.<\/p>\n double quotation markTell you what Scott, it\u2019s crazy hot inside the stadium. Myself, Barney Ronay and Ed Aarons have just set up in the press box, sat at our seats for five minutes and we\u2019re all dripping in sweat. Imagine playing in this. The temperature at the moment is 33C. The real feel is 42C. According to Ed\u2019s app, the humidity is 71pc.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a014.27 EDT<\/p>\n Weather report.<\/a> It\u2019s currently 33C (91F) in Miami, and not expected to get any cooler come kick-off time. Once humidity is factored in, it\u2019s likely to feel around 41C (106F). Phew, what a scorcher, etc. Will that give Norway an advantage? They played Brazil under 31C sun in New Jersey last weekend; the most extreme weather England have dealt with so far has been a 25C ramble under cloud, also in New Jersey, against Panama. So it\u2019s a toss-up between experience and fatigue levels: you decide, and the truth will out. The conditions aren\u2019t expected to exceed Fifa guidelines, so there\u2019s no chance of the game being called off \u2026 but there could be a weather delay should lightning strike within eight miles of Miami Stadium, in which case it\u2019s a 30-minute postponement, the countdown clock reset every time there\u2019s more electrical activity. But for now, fingers crossed for 5pm local time\/10pm BST\/7am AEST \u2026 and stay hydrated all y\u2019all.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Preamble<\/p>\n England won their first five games against Norway, between 1937 and 1980, to the cumulative score of 24-2. No wonder, then, that the commentator Bj\u00f8rge Lillelien went off on one like he did when Norway eventually chalked up their first victory against the Three Lions in September 1981. And if you haven\u2019t yet read Lars Sivertsen\u2019s entertaining account of that famous rant, right that wrong immediately!<\/p>\n It\u2019s been a lot closer between the two nations since then. In six subsequent meetings, England are two wins to one up with three draws, but it\u2019s Norway\u2019s sole victory that lingers longest in the memory: Oslo 1993, and a 2-0 World Cup qualifying win that marked the beginning of the end for poor old Graham Taylor. The famous yelps of \u201cDo I not like that!\u201d and \u201cCan we not knock it?!\u201d came earlier in that ill-fated campaign against Poland, but Phil Neal stole the show in Oslo with his spot-on impersonation of a lyrebird<\/a>, while Taylor himself delivered a couple of off-screen \u201caw fucking hell\u201ds that were a masterclass in comic timing and bathos. He was a good man, Graham; time\u2019s been kind.<\/p>\n It\u2019s been a quotable feast through the years, so here\u2019s to some more freestyle effin\u2019 and jeffin\u2019 tonight. All of the ingredients are ripe for choice comment: Erling Haaland and Harry Kane are scoring goals for fun; Arsenal\u2019s title-winning generals, Declan Rice and Martin \u00d8degaard, will face off in midfield; and it\u2019s going to be real hot in Miami. Both of these teams harbour genuine hopes of going all the way in this tournament, so here\u2019s to a (no-doubt-fraught) classic. Good luck everyone, may the best team hand out one hell of a beating. Kick-off is at 5pm local time\/10pm BST\/7am AEST. It\u2019s on! Can you hear me?!? It\u2019s on!!!!!<\/p>\n
Subs: Tangvik, Selvik, Thorsby, Ostigard, Larsen, Aursnes, Bjorkan, Pedersen, Thorstvedt, Aasgaard, Bobb, Hauge, Langas, Falchener, Nusa.<\/p>\n
Subs: Dean Henderson, Trafford, Rashford, Chalobah, Burn, Mainoo, Rogers, Watkins, Eze, Toney, James, Jordan Henderson, Saka, Spence.<\/p>\n