Norway’s preparations for their FIFA World Cup quarter-final showdown with England have been affected by illness within the squad, raising fresh concerns ahead of Saturday’s highly anticipated clash in Miami.
The Scandinavian nation secured a place in the last eight after producing one of the tournament’s biggest surprises with a 2-1 victory over Brazil. Erling Haaland starred in the encounter, scoring both goals to send Norway into the quarter-finals.
However, head coach Ståle Solbakken is now facing a different challenge, with several members of the team reportedly dealing with illness after weeks of travel across the United States.
Reports from Norway indicate that striker Jørgen Strand Larsen missed the team’s opening World Cup fixture after developing a fever, while defender Marcus Holmgren Pedersen was unavailable for the win over Brazil because of sickness.
Speaking about the situation, Solbakken said only a few players had experienced significant symptoms, although mild illness had spread among members of the travelling delegation.
He explained that factors such as constant flights, air-conditioned environments and the demanding tournament schedule may have contributed to the health issues, noting that it was not unusual for a large travelling group to experience such challenges.
Norway’s World Cup campaign has required extensive movement between several host cities, including Boston, New Jersey, Dallas and New York, with another trip planned before facing England in Miami.
Solbakken also expressed optimism that Pedersen could recover in time for the quarter-final, suggesting the defender’s condition may be linked to the physical and emotional demands of competing at the World Cup.
Meanwhile, England are also monitoring the fitness of several key players before the knockout encounter.
Defender Reece James is continuing his recovery from a hamstring injury, while midfielder Declan Rice and winger Bukayo Saka have been carefully managed to avoid aggravating fitness concerns during the tournament.
The Three Lions have also suffered a major setback with the loss of experienced midfielder Jordan Henderson, who has been ruled out for the remainder of the FIFA World Cup.
Henderson sustained a serious arm injury while celebrating England’s dramatic 3-2 Round of 16 victory over Mexico. The midfielder was taken to hospital after landing awkwardly and is expected to undergo surgery, leaving England without one of their most experienced players for the rest of the competition.
With both teams dealing with fitness and health concerns, attention now turns to Saturday’s quarter-final in Miami, where a place in the FIFA World Cup semi-finals will be at stake.
