England fans urge Haaland to have a stinker so football comes home to his birthplace

Norway's super striker was born in Leeds, plays for Manchester City and admits he feels part-English but will be trying to KO Thomas Tuchel's team in World Cup quarter-final showdown

Jerry Lawton Chief Reporter

21:09, 11 Jul 2026Updated 21:24, 11 Jul 2026

England's Erling Haaland (Image: Getty Images)

Three Lions fans have urged Erling Haaland to have a World Cup stinker to help bring football home to his birthplace England.

Ahead of tonights World Cup quarter-final Norways super striker admitted the Three Lions showdown would be a funny game because he was born in Yorkshire and could have been in Thomas Tuchel s team.

Supporters sent out a your REAL country needs you call for the goal machine to give himself a night off. Haaland was born in Leeds in 2000 while dad Alf-Inge played for the Premier League club.

After moving to Manchester City Haaland Snr hung up his boots and headed back to his native Norway with his superstar-in-waiting son - then aged three. As a youngster Erling was even pictured wearing a replica England shirt.

[Erling Haaland pictured in his England shirt as a kid]

Erling Haaland pictured in his England shirt as a kid

But back in Norway he vanished from the Three Lions radar and was recruited for the Vikings U15 squad. He has played international football at every age level and since making his full debut aged 20 has scored 62 goals in 54 games for his adopted homeland.

His seven goals in four games at the World Cup have turned him into soccers hottest new global superstar. Now the Manchester Citys strikers 6ft 5in frame stands squarely in the way of his home country England ending 60 years of hurt.

Three Lions fans begged Haaland to step back from goal-getting to keep their World Cup dream alive. Plumber Mark Ward, 41, said: "Haaland? He's Yorkshire through and through. He should bring football home - to Leeds. Take a day off, you've earned it.

[Erling was born in England while his dad Alfie Haaland played in the Prem]

Erling was born in England while his dad Alfie Haaland played in the Prem(Image: Corbis via Getty Images)

Delivery driver Andy Proctor, 52, added: If hes got divided loyalties the best thing he could do is nothing. Sit back and let the rest sort it out. Then everyone will be happy.

One fan wrote in a football forum: Hes another one we let get away - like Ryan Giggs. Now hes back to haunt us. Another added: He knows how much this means to us - hopefully hell go easy.

In an interview with City's website last season Haaland admitted he feels part-English. He said: When I signed for City I said I feel a bit home. I remember I said that. So, yeah, I feel a bit at home now I'm living in the UK and everything.

[Haaland's dad in action for Leeds]

Haaland's dad in action for Leeds(Image: Birmingham Post and Mail)

It was quite natural as well to move back here because my family had a great time in England. My mum loves England. She loves the traditions and all of these things.

My parents had a great time here before I was born and when I was born and I'm having a great time now.

Erling, 25, told The Gentleman's Journal he sometimes got flashbacks to his childhood when seeing pictures of my brother, my sister and myself on our way to school when we still lived in England.

[Haaland followed in his dad's footsteps to sign for City]

Haaland followed in his dad's footsteps to sign for City(Image: AFP via Getty Images)

Asked in another interview if he could have played for the Three Lions he said: I lived in England for 3 or four years. I lived in Norway for such a long time so it was natural for me to choose Norway.

Maybe if my father had played longer in England or whatever, maybe I would be English. I don't know. But I'm Norwegian and I'm proud of it.

Ahead of tonights showdown he said: Its a special game, yeah definitely. I think for me its super special because I play in England and Im born in England.

You also play against team mates and everything so its not weird but its a funny game. Its going to be nice.

[Haaland netted twice against Brazil]

Haaland netted twice against Brazil(Image: Bradley Collyer/PA Wire)

He then heaped pressure on England by insisting Tuchels team were favourites. While urging Three Lions fans who may be expecting to win to stay humble he added: They should be confident of progressing, definitely. Its England.

Gareth Southgate has said England had no chance of snaring Haaland. When he broke into first-team football he was pretty much already in the Norwegian youth system, the ex-England manager said in 2020.

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We recruit early but we wouldn't have been into him when he was still in Yorkshire, that's for sure.

We're always trying to monitor those cases but I think in that instance he was tied up pretty early by Norway and I think also, with players like him, they're quite clear where they want to play as well.

He feels that allegiance to the country that he's playing for now and you're always very respectful of that.

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