How should England line-up against Norway? Our writers pick their XIs for World Cup quarter-final

England are gearing up for the quarter-finals of the World Cup and a fascinating clash with Norway.

Thomas Tuchel’s side came through a testing and taxing night in Mexico City to reach the last eight with a performance that bolstered their hopes of lifting the trophy, and now take on Erling Haaland and co. for a semi-final spot.

Tuchel has a number of selection conundrums to sort out, with Reece James perhaps back to boost his options at the problem position at right-back.

Does Dan Burn earn a starting spot after a strong showing off the bench? Will Anthony Gordon keep his place on the left?

Here are the England XIs that our writers would pick for the quarter-final:

Kieran Jackson: Pickford; Konsa, Stones, Guehi, O’Reilly; Anderson, Rice; Saka, Bellingham, Gordon, Kane

Fitness dependent, changing the starting XI from the team that executed a thrilling last-16 victory over Mexico would be a wrong move; that side will be buoyed and galvanised by their terrific performance and battle in the Azteca.

Of course, there will be at least one enforced change given Jarrel Quansah’s red card and one-match ban. Reece James is said to be close to full fitness but, after a two-week absence due to a hamstring injury, he simply can’t come straight back into the team, particularly given he’ll be up against one of Norway’s star attackers in Antonio Nusa.

Therefore, it’s a choice between Djed Spence and Ezri Konsa at right-back. Spence really struggled when he started against DR Congo and was much more effective off the bench in Mexico, even if it was from the left. Konsa ended that game at right-back and I would start the trusted Aston Villa defender on the right-side on Saturday.

Elsewhere, England are unchanged, for me. After failing to come off the bench against Mexico, expect Marcus Rashford to be a key figure in the second-half but Anthony Gordon deserves to keep his spot. Every other player in the XI, at this stage, looks a near-certainty to be picked by Thomas Tuchel. Again, fitness dependent.

Michael Jones: Pickford; Konsa, Stones, Burn, O’Reilly; Anderson, Rice; Saka, Bellingham, Rashford; Kane

England’s encounter with Mexico was brutal and 45 minutes of pure defending will have taken its toll on the players and as such I think a few tweaks need to be made to the starting XI.

With Erling Haaland as the main threat to England, I’m starting John Stones and Dan Burn at centre-back. As a former teammate of the Norwegian, Stones brings experience and insight into how Haaland plays while at six-foot six Burn can match his physicality. He’s already proven as such in clashes against the striker whilst playing for Newcastle.

Selecting both means there is less pace in central defence so to balance things Ezri Konsa moves out to the right and Nico O’Reilly keeps his spot at left back as Norway will look for space in wide areas to supply Haaland.

Of course, Norway have threats other than Haaland, but Declan Rice and Elliot Anderson can control the midfield, and Jude Bellingham is a lock given his heroics throughout the tournament.

My only other change sees Marcus Rashford returned to the starting line-up. Rashford has a more natural desire to cut inside and shoot which should force Norway to defend deeper. He takes the place of Anthony Gordon, who played every minute at the Azteca Stadium, and is arguably a more influential player off the bench than the man he has replaced at Barcelona. Should England find themselves in a bit of bother his impact, and fresher legs, could help swing momentum back in the Three Lions’ favour.

Alan Smith: Pickford; James, Stones, Guehi, O'Reilly; Anderson, Rice; Saka, Bellingham, Gordon; Kane.

If Reece James is fit he has to play. Djed Spence acquitted himself well off the bench on Monday morning, a redemption following the horror show against DR Congo. But that was on his favoured left side and the prospect of him starting again on the right will thrill the Norwegian attack.

Do not let the late heroics against Mexico cloud the reality that Ezri Konsa has also struggled throughout the tournament and, depending on his condition, John Stones would be a better fit. That would put him alongside Marc Guehi - and their familiarity with Erling Haaland becomes an obvious benefit.

The rest of the team picks itself: Bukayo Saka must start despite not being 100 percent; Anthony Gordon must continue on the opposite flank.

Will Castle: Pickford; Konsa, Guehi, Burn, O’Reilly; Rice, Anderson; Saka, Bellingham, Gordon; Kane.

England’s right-back crisis does appear to be easing with Reece James said to be nearing a return, but Tuchel may not want to take any risks with a player who could prove integral to beating the likes of Argentina, Spain or France in the later rounds (wishful forward thinking, but Sunday night will do that to you).

That’s why I would probably start Ezri Konsa at right-back to fill in for the suspended Jarell Quansah, choosing him ahead of Djed Spence despite his impressive cameo off the bench against Mexico - as Alan highlighted, that was on his favoured less side and the memories of him on the right against DR Congo are still pretty off-putting.

Speaking of impressive substitute cameos, we turn to Dan Burn - whose introduction against Mexico was the substitute of Tuchel’s England career so far, in my book. His gargantuan presence in defence is just what England need to try and quell Erling Haaland, and the six-foot six defender has a good track record for doing just that for Newcastle in their clashes. To get that invaluable Manchester City insight, I’d pair Burn with Haaland’s club team-mate Marc Guehi ahead of John Stones, with the former making up for Burn’s lack of pace.

Selection is pretty straightforward for Tuchel from there on in, with little need to change things up massively after one of England’s all-time great World Cup wins. There might be the argument to rotate Anthony Gordon for Marcus Rashford to keep things fresh but Gordon’s stark upturn in form in the knockouts makes him a must-start for me. Bukayo Saka also needs to keep his place even if he’s not 100 percent fit, with Noni Madueke the impact sub if/when required - not the other way round.