England football captain Harry Kane described Norwegian Erling Haaland as a "machine", but stressed that the "monster" striker is completely different from him, ahead of the anticipated clash between the two teams on Saturday in Miami in the World Cup quarter-finals in North America.

Haaland scored seven goals in just four matches in his first major tournament, including a brace that knocked out Brazil (2-1), leading Norway to the quarter-finals for the first time.

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Kane, the Bayern Munich striker, trails Manchester City forward by just one goal in the tournament's scoring charts, bringing his overall World Cup tally to 14 goals. Kane said in a press conference on the eve of the match: "I think we are completely different players. I know we are both strikers, but we almost play in different positions."

The England international added: "Erling is an amazing player, his scoring record is phenomenal, and physically he is like a machine. He is a monster. His finishing is top level and his scoring record speaks for itself."

He continued: "I see myself as a different player, even though I score the same goals. I like to get on the ball a bit more and be more involved in the play, but I can also play as a pure striker."

He added: "I don't think it is appropriate to compare ourselves. I have a lot of respect for him as a player and a professional. I certainly hope he has an off day tomorrow, but his overall performance is fantastic. He is an amazing player."

Despite their impressive scoring records, Kane and Haaland still trail Argentine Lionel Messi and Frenchman Kylian Mbappe, who have scored eight goals each in the race for the Golden Boot.

Kane won the World Cup Golden Boot in 2018, but England failed to win the title then, losing in the semi-finals to Croatia.

Ending a 60-year wait for a major trophy remains Kane's primary goal, but he also hopes his goals will help crown the "Three Lions".

The Bayern Munich striker said: "It has been an amazing World Cup in terms of all the top strikers and goalscorers performing, scoring goals and making an impact on games. That is not always the case in major tournaments."

He added: "It is great competition. It drives me to be at my best as much as possible."

He continued: "My main goal is to win the World Cup more than winning the Golden Boot again, but I also know that I am a goalscorer. I am the number nine striker. So if I am scoring goals, that will definitely help the team."

Kane has been the spearhead of a generation of England players who have come closer than ever to ending the long wait since the 1966 World Cup triumph.

Under coach Gareth Southgate, England lost the finals of the last two European Championships and reached the quarter-finals and semi-finals of the last two World Cups.

Kane made a final call for a massive effort to cross the line towards the title, in what could be up to three matches in eight days to make history.

He said: "In the end, until we win that trophy, the talk will always be about England and the team, but we are in a good position. We are where we wanted to be six weeks ago when we gathered in the training camp."

He concluded: "We have taken a lot of good steps in the right direction. We have overcome many difficult moments and matches. Now we are in the last eight days of the final push. We will need everyone at their highest level to achieve our dreams."