Blocking Erling Haaland will be the key to beating Norway, as Moussa Niakhaté asserts.
On Monday night, the Senegalese national team will face Norway in their second World Cup match. After their defeat against France, the Lions absolutely must bounce back to avoid jeopardizing their chances of qualifying for the second round .
While the Drillos easily defeated Iraq (4-1), the clash between Norway and Senegal promises to be a fiery affair. Especially since one name keeps coming up whenever the Scandinavian team’s attack is discussed: Erling Haaland.
The Senegalese defense, which struggled against Les Bleus, will once again have to contend with one of the most prolific in the world, led by the current Manchester City striker. And quite simply, one of the best.
“And when we see each other, we chat, because it’s like seeing a familiar face,” the Senegalese defender told L’Equipe.
“That’s what’s great about football: there’s the competitive aspect, of course, but there’s also the human element. I never had a falling out with him. We often went head-to-head, but it was always in good sportsmanship. That matters.”
The duel between the Olympique Lyonnais defender and the Norwegian giant, who scored twice in his first World Cup match against Iraq, promises to be particularly epic.
Niakhaté knows this and is preparing for it. “He doesn’t need three chances to score. He’s very skillful, both with his head and his feet. He’s a powerful finisher, not necessarily a dribbler. And he’s improved his heading ability. We see it at City, where he often finishes attacks at the far post, because he has that leap and he’s able to stay in the air, like Cristiano Ronaldo. You can also feel his physical power.
With Haaland, you have to try to mark him in the box more than any other striker, because you absolutely have to prevent him from jumping. He’s an intelligent striker who knows how to put his opponent in difficulty.” With the support of his teammates, Niakhaté hopes to limit Haaland’s influence.
