Martin Odegaard
has praised
Declan Rice
in anticipation of England’s World Cup quarter-final against Norway on Saturday evening.
Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images
As England prepares to clash with Norway in the World Cup quarter-finals, Arsenal teammates will face each other in their national teams.
Norway’s captain, Martin Odegaard, is set to go head-to-head with England’s Bukayo Saka, Noni Madueke, Eberechi Eze, and Declan Rice. Ahead of the match, he shared his thoughts on Rice’s abilities.
Photo by Richard Pelham/Getty Images
“[Rice] is someone who gives everything for the team,” Odegaard stated. “He fights for every ball, brings energy to the pitch, and drives the team forward. He possesses a wide range of skills.
“He can defend, attack, be physical, and is proficient with the ball, making him a very well-rounded player. This match will be a significant test for us all, not just because of Declan, but because the entire team consists of incredible players.
“It’s a substantial challenge, and we’re eager for it. We hope to create even more history.”
Photo by Richard Pelham/Getty Images
Good news for England, Norway, and neutral fans is that both Rice and Odegaard are expected to play in the match. Reports indicated they were both ill earlier in the week, but they have managed to recover in time.
Odegaard is also competing for the ‘most assists’ title in this World Cup, with three assists to his name so far.
Michael Olise leads the competition with five assists, but if Odegaard secures one more assist and Norway wins, he’ll trail Olise by just one assist with two matches remaining (a semi-final and either the final or a third-place play-off).
The same applies to Saka, who is also on three assists for England. Only one of them can advance further in the tournament.
Photo by Richard Pelham/Getty Images