MIAMI, July 11 — England captain Harry Kane has described Erling Haaland as “a machine” and “a beast”, but insists the pair are “completely different players” ahead of Saturday’s World Cup quarter-final between England and Norway.

Haaland has scored seven goals in his first four matches at a major tournament, including a brace that knocked out Brazil and sent Norway into the World Cup quarter-finals for the first time.

“I think we’re completely different players. I know we’re both strikers, but we’re in almost two different positions,” Kane told his pre-match press conference.

“Erling is incredible, his goalscoring record, physically he’s a machine, he’s a beast. His finishing is at the highest level and his goalscoring record speaks for itself.”

“I see myself as a different player, although I score the same goals. I like to maybe touch the ball a little bit more, be involved with the play a little bit more, but also can play as maybe the out-and-out number nine.”

Kane said comparing the two forwards was difficult, adding that he has great respect for the Manchester City striker.

“I don’t think it’s one to compare ourselves. I respect him a lot as a player and as a professional. Obviously, I’m hoping he has a quiet day tomorrow, but I think his overall performance is very good. He’s a fantastic player.”

The England skipper has scored six goals at this year’s tournament, taking his overall World Cup tally to 14, but he and Haaland both trail Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe, who have each scored eight times in the race for the Golden Boot.

Kane won the Golden Boot at the 2018 World Cup, but says lifting the trophy with England matters far more than claiming another individual honour.

“I think it’s been an amazing World Cup on that front in terms of all the top strikers, all the top goalscorers scoring goals and affecting games. It’s not always the case at these major tournaments,” he said.

“It’s a great competition. It puts me in a mindset to be at my very best level as much as possible.”

“My main goal is to win the World Cup more than another Golden Boot, but I also know I’m a goalscorer, I’m the number nine, so if I’m scoring goals, it’s obviously going to help the team.”

England have not won a major men’s tournament since the 1966 World Cup despite reaching two European Championship finals and the latter stages of recent World Cups under former manager Gareth Southgate.

Kane said the squad is determined to make the most of its opportunity.

“Ultimately, until we win that trophy, there’s always going to be that talk around England and the team but we’re in a good position. We’re in a place that we wanted to be six weeks ago when we met up for prep camp,” he said.

“We took a lot of good steps in the right direction. We’ve overcome a lot of difficult moments and difficult games.”

“Now we’re in the final eight days of the final push. We’re going to need everyone to be at the highest level to achieve our dreams.” — AFP