England and Norway bosses hail World Cup wonders Haaland and Kane

“I don't think it's a secret that Kane is match-leader number one for England and Haaland is match-leader number one for us," said Solbakken who has guided a Norway squad into a first World Cup quarter final.

"He's in the shape of his life and in the highest peak of his career," said Tuchel of Kane. England skipper Harry Kane has struck six goals for England in their surge to a World Cup last eight showdown with Norway in Miami.

"He has the mindset of a team player," added the 52-year-old German. "He's ready to lead by example and to push everybody, always ready to take responsibility, always ready to perform and help us. It's a privilege to have him as captain, a privilege to be his coach."

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The winner of the showdown will play the victor of Saturday night's clash between defending champions Argentina and Switzerland. The other semi-final pits Spain against France in Dallas on Tuesday.

England are playing in their third consecutive last eight clash at the world's most prestigious national team tournament.

And Solbakken conceded such experience would give Tuchel's team the slight edge. "If we are not at our very, very best, England will go through," added the 58-year-old former Norway international.

In their historic run to the last eight, Haaland scored twice as Norway upset Brazil 2-1 in the last-16 on 5 July at the New York/New Jersey Stadium.

Race for the 'Golden Boot'

Kane scored one goal and set up one of Jude Bellingham's two strikes in the 3-2 last-16 win over Mexico at the Estadio Azteca on the same day. 

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Haaland, 25, has racked up seven goals in four matches at his first World Cup.

He sits one behind the Argentina skipper Lionel Messi and the France captain Kylian Mbappé in the race for the 'Golden Boot' which is awarded to the most prolific marksman at the competition. Kane is fourth in the race with six goals. In his three appearances at the World Cup, Kane has notched up 14 goals to sit in fifth place on the all-time World Cup scoring list alongside Germany's Gerd Müller.

'Service to the striker'

Haaland, who was born in England while his father was playing for Leeds United, said he was relishing the encounter.

"It will be super special because I play in England and I'm born in England and I'll be against teammates,” he added.

England defender Nico O'Reilly, who plays with Haaland at Manchester City, said the simple solution to stop Haaland will be to cut off service to the striker.

“We all know what he's like,” O'Reilly said. “He can score goals. He's dangerous in the box. He's a real threat. But they need to get him the ball there first.”