BBC Radio 5 Live

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Before we leave this subject and look ahead to Spain v Belgium, Nicky Campbell held a football phone-in about Norway v England on BBC Radio 5 Live this morning, starting with chat about Saturday's quarter-final before delving into the history of the Vikings.

Click the link to find out more.

Here's what some of the callers had to say:

Kenny, Middlesbrough: "I think we will beat Norway. I’m always a glass half full. I’m always confident. So far, we have played teams we should beat. Whilst Southgate did many good things for the England team - and the supporters and country - the one thing he couldn’t do was get past the teams that on paper were better than us. That’s where an elite manager like Thomas Tuchel might make the difference."

Ragnhild, Norway fan in Liverpool: "Football, you can’t predict it. Anything can happen. The underdog can always do it. I do think Norway are the underdog facing England. Norway are so full of confidence, joy, togetherness and energy. They have nothing to lose. They have already completely thrilled their nation and brought us together in a way I’ve never seen before. Norway can go into this game with low shoulders and smiles on their faces, they have already basically won this tournament - in the way of playing for themselves and their country. And that’s a great starting point in winning a football game. England are carrying this immense pressure and 60 years of hurt."

Michael, Reading: "Tuchel is a tournament specialist. You may not like his tactics. He plays to win. Erling Haaland’s comments in the press also indicates he’s nervous, he’s trying to put pressure on England. No-one predicted us to get through Mexico, I think we are surprising people. I think we can go the distance. It pains me to say I’ve been an England fan for as long as I remember, but I do believe in Tuchel."

BBC 5 Live Breakfast

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Norwegian actor Kristofer Hivju, who played Tormund Giantsbane in Game of Thrones, on what the World Cup means to the Norwegian people:

"It has been 28 years since we were in this competition, so we have been preparing for 28 years.

"When we beat Italy twice [in qualifying], that's when we felt like everything was possible.

"To be in the quarter-finals, it's the first time in our history, I think, so for us, this little country of Vikings, we are ready for battle."

On the team and fans using Viking symbolism: "Image is everything, isn't it? The funny thing is that in Norwegian culture we haven't really used these Viking symbolics so much because it has a rough history as well - it goes both ways. But in this case it is nice to see how it blossoms in a fun way."

And he whispers: "There are Vikings still around, right?"

Finally, on talismanic striker Erling Haaland, Hivju breaks into a menacing belly laugh: "He has found the right recipe to become a half god, I can tell you that! He's amazing. He loves the game, he loves football and you can see that joy spreading in every aspect of his game. So we love Haaland."

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We know at least one famous Viking (?) who would have been hitting the thumbs down on that last post...

So there we have it - a full, thorough build-up to England's World Cup quarter-final against Norway tomorrow night.

We're less than 36 hours away from kick-off. How are we feeling, Three Lions fans?

Thumbs up for an England win (and one step closer to a potential extra Bank Holiday!).

Thumbs down for a Norway win.

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England

Manchester City and England's Nico O'Reilly on coping with the weather in Miami: "It is going to be hot. Up to now we have played in cool conditions, I'd say. But we are ready for it.

"We had pre-camp over there, so I think we have acclimatised well to the weather. I've seen maybe there could be storms or something like that, so we will see."

And finally, from Dr Lee Taylor: Are England ready for the heat?

"Ever since their season finished, which was different times for different players in the squad, they've been building this base of heat acclimation or acclimatisation, which is the gold standard method to protect their health and performance in the heat.

"And they can do that with playing matches and training in a hot environment, or they can combine that with some acclimation exposures. So that's perhaps having a training session in a temperate environment and engaging in some hot water immersion or sauna bathing, for example

"It's almost irrelevant what they've been doing, whether it's these sauna bathing exposures, natural heat exposures. They've been getting those exposures into the players pretty consistently as they had two hot bases. They've done some work in Miami, they've been camping in Kansas.

"So we're fairly certain that those players are acclimated or climatised.

"Admittedly, they haven't been able to really test that in a game environment, but we're not too concerned about that because we know they've acquired those physiological adaptations."

More from Dr Lee Taylor on how England and Norway are coming into the match in Miami:

"Playing in the heat is much more tiring than playing in a temperate environment.

"The Norwegian side have played four pretty warm games, and the one in New Jersey was particularly hot. Really, if you're a performance scientist, you're probably quite pleased about that, because we know that's going to increase their fatigue on the back of a very busy season. Whereas the England players had the tough game in Mexico, but it didn't go to extra time and it wasn't hot.

"So it's a bit of a quid pro quo. I think England are in a really good position, and I'd probably rather have the set of the scenario that England have evolved through, rather than which Norway have, based on the fatigue that the players have acquired.

"And I think probably looking at the games, Norway quite haven't quite got the squad that England have got. England have been probably using the majority of their substitutes in most games and managing that fatigue as well."

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Dr Lee Taylor from Loughborough University, a leading expert in elite athlete performance and the challenges of heat and altitude, spoke to BBC Sport about the conditions England will face when they play Norway in Miami.

"I think for the Miami game, the thing to note is that the stadium is outside with a covered roof, so humidity can build up in parts of it. It's not a free-flowing air environment – it's known as a hot, humid stadium.

"Even though the predicted temperature is only around 28C, I believe it's going to feel a lot hotter during the game. Humidity levels are expected to be very high. There's also very little wind, which is something you really want in a hot environment, especially when it's humid.

"The challenge with humidity is that, if we're in a very hot, dry environment – say it's 32C, with low humidity and a strong wind – humans are actually very efficient at losing heat. That's because the wind helps sweat evaporate more quickly, and sweating is the best way for us to cool down."

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Although England have plenty of experience at this stage of the World Cup, Saturday night's match against Norway in Miami is likely to bring its own challenges, with athlete performance expert Dree Lee Taylor insisting the conditions will be "hot and humid".

But just how much of an impact will that have on Thomas Tuchel's players?

England

This will be the 11th quarter-final England's men's team have reached at the World Cup.

The Three Lions have reached the quarter-final stage in three consecutive tournaments - 2018, 2022 and 2026.

England have only won three of their 10 previous quarter-finals, including in 2018, when they beat Sweden to reach the semi-finals.

At the last World Cup in 2022, England lost 2-1 to France in the last eight.

England's World Cup quarter-finals:

• 1954 - lost 4-2 to Uruguay
• 1962 - lost 3-1 to Brazil
• 1966 - beat Argentina 1-0, went on to win the title
• 1970 - lost 3-2 to West Germany
• 1986 - lost 2-1 to Argentina
• 1990 - beat Cameroon 3-2, went on to lose to West Germany in the semi-finals
• 2002 - lost 2-1 to Brazil
• 2006 - lost on penalties to Portugal
• 2018 - beat Sweden 2-0, went on to lose to Croatia in the semi-finals
• 2022 - lost 2-1 to France

England

England winger Bukayo Saka, spoke to the media about his fitness: "I think across the tournament my minutes have been building and building. Of course I would have loved to have come to the tournament at 100% but that wasn't the case and everyone has realised that and has managed me in the best way possible, but right now I'm feeling great and ready to go.

"There's been a nice balance between a real focus and intensity in training and when it's our downtime, having that relaxed mindset and enjoying time with the boys and our families in Kansas City.

"Each game has been unique for me but my mindset doesn't really change much - I come on, whether I start or not, and I try and do what the game needs. It's about winning and that's my mindset."

On belief after coming through against Mexico: "For us, we believed and we believed from the start. The belief was more for the people back home and them seeing us go through that adversity and see us come out on top was important for all of us.

"How players that haven't been playing came on and the players that have been producing some big moments again. Everyone had their contribution and it was just an amazing night for us as a camp.

"Our spirits are high and we need to take it into the next game."

On focus on Norway: "We discussed that we need to put the drama and the emotions of the Mexico game behind us now. We soaked in all of the praise and everything that came with it but now we need to focus on Norway which is going to be a tough challenge.

"We're fully focused and buzzing that we're winning.

"Norway are a very good team - they play with confidence and a directness and that's been working for them so far."

I don't think throwing Dan Burn in to deal with Erling Haaland is a bad shout, Josh.

The forward has only scored one goal in seven matches against Burn's Newcastle since moving to the Premier League in 2022.

Burn certainly knows how to ruffle the big man's feathers...

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

England

Manchester City and England's Nico O'Reilly on confidence after Mexico win: "Yeah, a lot of confidence. We had confidence going into that game and we have got confidence going into this game. We believe in ourselves, trust our abilities and we go from there."

On what makes Erling Haaland so special: "Erling is Erling. We all know what he is like. He can score goals, he is dangerous in the box and he is a real threat."

On having Man City players in the England squad and how they are prepared to deal with Haaland: "I guess it takes a toll in it but I think keeping Erling quiet gives us a real chance to win the game. Given all the threat he can cause, unbelievable striker, world-class. He showed that throughout the tournament, scoring in every game he has played in. We are mainly focusing on ourselves and focusing on our game rather than his."

England

Manchester City and England's Nico O'Reilly on the mood in the camp after their victory against Mexico: "Very positive, a good result and we are just looking forward now. We are excited for the next game."

On Man City team-mate Erling Haaland's comment that all the pressure will be on England: "It could be mind games. They're a good team as well, they have shown that throughout the tournament. It is not just certain players we need to worry about, they are good collectively and it is going to be a good game, a good bout."

Let's head to England's camp in Kansas City and get the latest from the players.

Manchester City defender Nico O'Reilly and Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka have been speaking to the media about the pressure of being favourites against Norway, facing Erling Haaland and the mood in the camp since Monday's win over Mexico.

If you said John Stones and Jordan Henderson, then you guessed correctly!

Both featured in England's 1-0 friendly win over Norway at Wembley in September 2014 and remain the only players from that match still involved with the Three Lions today.

The duo have an astonishing 183 international caps between them, with Stones likely to add to his tally before the end of the World Cup.

Sadly for Henderson, he is unlikely to play any further part in the tournament after suffering a serious injury in the aftermath of the 3-2 win over Mexico.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Norway and England have met 12 times previously, with this their first meeting since the Three Lions won a friendly match 1-0 in September 2014.

In total, Norway have won just two of those 12 matches, while failing to score in the last four.

It's fair to say a lot has changed since that meeting at Wembley in 2014.

Can you name the only two players still playing for the Three Lions who were involved that night?

Henry Winter
Football writer on BBC Radio 5 Live

I think the personnel may change but there is a resilience to this England team.

They are strong characters out there, that Thomas Tuchel has chosen. But, absolutely you want [Marc] Guehi fit.

We all know how England made it to the last eight of the World Cup.

The Three Lions topped Group L with seven points after two wins - 2-0 against Panama and 4-2 against Croatia - and a goalless draw with Ghana.

In the last 32, England faced DR Congo, beating them 2-1 to progress.

England then faced Mexico in the last 16 and, after the game was delayed by an hour because of severe weather in Mexico City, a double from Jude Bellingham and a Harry Kane penalty made it worth the wait as the Three Lions secured a dramatic 3-2 win at the Azteca to set up a quarter-final showdown with Norway.

Any excuse to relive that thriller from the early hours of Monday morning, right?