John Stones had to know the question was coming. With Mexico vanquished after one of the great England nights, the focus had turned in part to the quarter‑final against Norway in Miami on Saturday and some bloke up front with a ponytail. Stones knows Erling Haaland, having spent the past four seasons with him at Manchester City, but this was not a time for him to engage on the nitty-gritty of how to stop him.
At one point, as Stones spoke at the Azteca stadium after England’s epic 3-2 win on Sunday, he claimed to have only just been told what side his team play next. Come on, John. Norway beat Brazil to advance well before England stepped out against Mexico. In many respects, it was classic laid‑back Stones, living only in the moment. The central defender did, of course, talk of his respect for Haaland and Norway.
