England vs. Norway history: Head-to

England vs. Norway history: Head-to-head matches at World Cup, last meeting, team records and more originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

England face Norway in a mouthwatering World Cup quarterfinal on Saturday.

Thomas Tuchel's side claimed a stirring 3-2 win over Mexico in the Round of 16 but must now tackle some familiar foes.

From captain Martin Odegaard to star striker Erling Haaland, several Norway stars ply their trade in the Premier League.

Manchester City hero Haaland is enjoying a sensational maiden World Cup, with seven goals in four appearances. The showdown between Harry Kane and Haaland pits arguably the two best No. 9s on the planet against one another on the biggest stage.

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This will be the first meeting between England and Norway at a major tournament. Their 12 previous encounters have been in either international friendlies or World Cup qualifiers.

Their first meeting came back in 1937 and, although England have the edge overall, the two most notable results in the head-to-head are Norway wins.

In September 1981, despite England taking an early lead in Oslo through Bryan Robson, goals from Roger Albertsen and Hallvar Thoresen put Norway 2-1 to the good before halftime.

The hosts held on for a seismic triumph that was unforgettably immortalised by radio announcer Bjorge Lillelien reeling off a list of former UK Prime Ministers and other notable names, before unleashing his mocking refrain.

We are the best in the world! We are the best in the world! We have beaten England 2–1 in football!! It is completely unbelievable! We have beaten England! England, birthplace of giants. Lord Nelson, Lord Beaverbrook, Sir Winston Churchill, Sir Anthony Eden, Clement Attlee, Henry Cooper, Lady Diana — we have beaten them all. We have beaten them all.

Maggie Thatcher can you hear me? Maggie Thatcher, I have a message for you in the middle of the election campaign. I have a message for you: We have knocked England out of the football World Cup. Maggie Thatcher, as they say in your language in the boxing bars around Madison Square Garden in New York: Your boys took a hell of a beating! Your boys took a hell of a beating!

England at least managed to qualify on that occasion, having beaten Norway at Wembley 12 months earlier. Ron Greenwood's side performed admirably at the 1982 World Cup and bowed out after the second group stage despite not losing any of their five matches.

The Three Lions suffered a worse fate in the 1992/93 season as Graham Taylor's embattled team sought to reach the 1994 World Cup. After a 1-1 draw at Wembley, where Kjetil Rekdal cancelled out David Platt's opener 13 minutes from time, Egil Olsen's side won 2-0 at Ullevaal Stadium thanks to goals from Oyvind Leonhardsen and Lars Bohinen either side of halftime.

Norway won the group and ensured that, the previous time the World Cup was staged in the United States, England did not take part.

England vs. Norway head-to-head

Norway have not beaten England since that famous showdown in Oslo and the four international friendlies since have hardly been banner affairs, producing a grand total of two goals.

England lead the overall head-to-head with seven wins to Norway's two. The sides have drawn three times.

Still licking their wounds from a group-stage exit at the 2014 World Cup a couple of months earlier, England claimed a forgettable friendly win over Norway on September 3, 2014.

Wayne Rooney scored the only goal from the penalty spot midway through the second half in front of a crowd of 40,181 — a record low for the England men's national team at the new Wembley.

It's safe to say the excitement levels around both sides are far higher heading into the biggest match the two countries have ever played against one another.

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