World Cup LIVE: Bank holiday for England fans, Norway chaos, quarter

Dan Burn believes England must be far better than they were against Mexico to beat Norway and would relish the challenge of keeping Erling Haaland quiet.

England overcame hostility, altitude and Jarell Quansah’s red card later that day to beat Mexico 3-2 at the electric Estadio Azteca, where Burn played a key role off the bench.

The towering defender helped Tuchel’s 10 men batten down the hatches and knows far more is required if they are to avoid an agonising quarter-final exit to Norway.

Haaland has scored seven goals this summer, just one behind Golden Boot leader Lionel Messi, but has only managed to score once in his previous contests with Newcastle defender Burn.

Burn, speaking to talkSPORT, said: "Yeah, I don’t want to jinx it. But, yeah, one goal. I do enjoy playing against Erling purely just from a physical point of view.

"I quite like that sort of physical battle, and I get on well with him on the pitch. We do get on quite well, although you'd have to ask him if he thinks the same thing. If I'm asked to do that, I'll be more than ready and more than happy to do that.

"But obviously I also know that we've got sort of four other centre halves here who are also top-quality players and have played this whole tournament because of that too."

Justin Bieber has been confirmed as one of the co-headliners for the inaugural FIFA World Cup Final Halftime Show on Sunday, July 19 - however, the BBC are set to ignore him.

Instead, the Beeb are set to focus on analysing the action of the first half rather than cutting to the show.

Bieber has been announced alongside Madonna, Shakira and South Korean boy band BTS for the performance at the final, in New York New Jersey Stadium.

The show has been pencilled in for 11 minutes during the interval but the BBC will likely not show it.

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Morgan Rogers has called Ezri Konsa "one of the best centre-backs in football" and has backed his Aston Villa team-mate to keep Erling Haaland quiet in England’s World Cup quarter-final with Norway.

No player has played more minutes under Thomas Tuchel than Konsa, who has opened mainly at centre-back but also in both full-back positions.

Rogers, who leans on his Villa team-mate for support, says that Konsa is under-rated and one of the best defenders on show.

Asked whether Konsa gets enough credit, Rogers replied: "No, nowhere near. I think he’s one of the best centre-backs in football, if I’m honest, I think at this World Cup.

"I think the ability that he’s got, he can do everything as a centre-back, never gets beaten in the air, strong in the tackle, unbelievable on the ball.

"Honestly, I don’t know a flaw in his game, and I think that's helped Villa that probably a bigger club has not taken him in the last few years. I think that’s helped us, because I honestly don’t know a problem in his game, really.

"It's nice that he gets the recognition and he can compete on the world stage, and everyone can see how good he actually is. I think he does go under the radar massively and in these conversations of the best centre-backs, he is right up there."

FIFA's referees' chief Pierluigi Collina has defended officials at the World Cup after Egypt claimed "serious" mistakes had been made by the referee in their last-16 loss to Argentina.

The Egyptian Football Association called for French referee Francois Letexier and his team to be sent home after being left angered by key decisions in Tuesday's match, when they conceded three late goals to lose 3-2 to the defending champions.

Egypt coach Hossam Hassan appeared to suggest there was favouritism shown towards Argentina by FIFA, saying: "Perhaps they wanted to keep the world champion in the competition."

In comments published on FIFA's website, chief refereeing officer Collina insisted his officials could not be influenced by anyone.

He said: "Of course, constructive discussion about decisions will always be part of football, but unfounded allegations have no place in our sport. Nobody can question the integrity of the FIFA World Cup match officials.

"When this happens, it may provoke reactions that lead to threats against them and their families. This is not right. Equally, nobody can claim that FIFA refereeing can be influenced by anyone, not even by the FIFA president."

An England World Cup win could mean an extra bank holiday, Sir Keir Starmer has hinted ahead of a quarter-final clash with Norway at the weekend.

The Prime Minister hailed Monday’s win over Mexico as “one of the best England performances I’ve ever seen” and victory against Norway would take them a step closer to a first World Cup win for 60 years.

The Three Lions fans in Miami for the quarter-final tie still had the Mexico game at the forefront of their minds, with one saying that even if the team wins the tournament, “it won’t be that”.

Asked whether he would back a bank holiday if England managed to win the tournament, Sir Keir told reporters at Wednesday’s Nato conference: “I don’t want to jinx it, but ask me again if we get to the final.”

With the final taking place on Sunday July 19, it is thought the following Friday has been earmarked as the most likely date for a celebratory bank holiday.

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