West Brom's Aune Heggebo backs Haaland and Heggem over Kane and England for World Cup showdown

Aune Heggebo has backed compatriot Erling Haaland and former Albion team-mate Torbjorn Heggem to come out on top against Harry Kane in Saturday’s World Cup quarter-final.

The Three Lions lock horns with Norway in the last eight clash after the Scandinavians, inspired by the talismanic Haaland, have captured the imagination globally with their run.

Norway, led by former Wolves boss Stale Solbakken, dumped out Brazil in the last round and their iconic traditional ‘Viking Row’ celebration has been one of the sights and sounds of the tournament in north America.

Albion striker Heggebo, who won his first two Norwegian caps after moving to the Baggies last summer, was not named in the World Cup squad and has more recently been watching from afar at his home in the West Midlands.

He described the scene in his native in Norway as “madness”, revealed a whole nation has become obsessed with the sport and backed his international colleagues to deal with England’s major threat.

“I get a bit of FOMO from the people living in Norway because it's complete madness going on in the streets!” Heggebo, 24, smiled.

“Of course, I couldn't sleep after the Brazil game. It was a piece of Norwegian football history, Norway beating Brazil there. It's inspirational and so unreal to watch the Norwegian team perform.

“I’ve been watching and cheering on from the outside.”

Bergen-born Heggebo added of the reaction at home: “It's also been like you've got the whole of the Norwegian population following the national team now. It's like even people that don't follow football have started to fall in love with football.

“It's definitely bringing the whole nation together. I don't think people saw it coming that we were going to beat Brazil. It's been amazing.”

Heggebo and Albion are in behind-closed-doors action against Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday lunchtime and fly to Portugal afterwards.

The striker hopes to be in place for the 10pm kick-off at the team’s hotel. He laughed that some of Albion’s Irish contingent have suggested they will root for Norway.

It has been billed the World Cup of Superstars across the pond as Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, Kane and Haaland, among others, have delivered on their world-leading tags with inspired performances in the golden boot race.

Heggebo made his Norway debut last September as a late replacement for Haaland in an 11-1 win over Moldova in which the Manchester City icon netted five.

“He’s definitely a big inspiration,” added Heggebo, who was Albion’s 10-goal top scorer last term. “He shows anything is possible, definitely.

“The standards he's been delivering for over so many years, it's crazy.

“I think if you watch the Norway game as well, they play really good football as well.”

Key to the mouth-watering contest in Miami will be a battle between England’s Kane and Norway’s Haaland.

Heggebo said: “What a game it will be. I'm already looking forward to it. I can't wait.”

And asked if his belief was that Haaland will come out on top over the England captain, the Baggies man smiled: “Of course.”

Heggebo briefly shared an Albion dressing room with compatriot Heggem, the centre-back who excelled before departing for Bologna. Heggem, 27, has been influential for Norway in the tournament.

“He's been outstanding. His journey from Norway into Sweden and then England and Italy and playing in the World Cup now, it's an amazing story,” said the striker.

“His professionalism and his football knowledge is so good and his desire to become better as well. The ceiling for him is high, definitely.”

And on the challenge of facing Kane?: “I think he'll have him in control.”