Martin Odegaard will play as Norway’s chief creator when his side face England in the World Cup quarter final tonight, with the midfielder expected to come up directly against Declan Rice in a key battle in the centre of the pitch.
Both players represent Arsenal and enjoyed a successful club season together, winning the Premier League title and reaching the Champions League final. They now turn their attention to international football as they attempt to guide their respective countries closer to World Cup glory.
The quarter-final promises to be a fascinating contest, with several Arsenal teammates set to face one another. Odegaard and Rice are expected to play pivotal roles as both sides compete for a place in the semi-finals.
Odegaard prepares for England test
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Odegaard remains Norway’s primary creative influence and will be aiming to provide opportunities for Erling Haaland against England. However, England possesses a squad filled with quality and experience, making the challenge a demanding one.
Preparations for the match have intensified with kick-off only a few hours away. According to [Hayters](https://hayters.com/odegaard-ready-for-big-test-against-england/), Odegaard acknowledged the strength of the England squad while expressing confidence that Norway can compete. He said:
“Obviously we know the quality they have. I know them really well.
“Outstanding players, world-class players, playing for probably one of the best national teams in the world at the moment.
Norway believe they can compete
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Odegaard also pointed to Norway’s previous success in the tournament as evidence that they are capable of causing another surprise despite entering the match as underdogs.
He added:
“So it’s going to be a big test for us. But I think Brazil was the same. You know, we were the underdogs, and as you saw, anything can happen in football. So, yeah, we’re going to give it a good try and see what we can do and looking forward to it.”
Norway will rely heavily on Odegaard’s creativity if they are to overcome one of the tournament favourites. England, meanwhile, will look to Rice and the rest of their experienced squad to maintain their progress.
With a place in the World Cup semi-finals at stake, the meeting between the Arsenal teammates is expected to be one of the defining contests of the match.