Norway's preparations for their World Cup quarter-final against England have been disrupted by a sickness bug, according to reports. Erling Haaland's brace in a 2-1 win over Brazil secured an unexpected spot in the last eight, but head coach Stale Solbakken is increasingly concerned about the amount of traveling his squad has faced.
Travel fatigue and illness
Norway's World Cup campaign has involved flying back and forth from Boston, with matches also played in New Jersey and Dallas. Sunday's victory against Brazil was staged in New York, and the team will have to notch up further air miles ahead of Saturday's game against England in Miami.
According to Norwegian outlet Dagbladet, Crystal Palace forward Jorgen Strand Larsen missed the opening game of the tournament through illness, while Marcus Holmgren Pedersen was absent from the clash against Brazil with a bug. Solbakken was also spotted coughing violently at a press conference after Norway's 4-1 defeat to France in the group stage.
Solbakken's concerns
“We’ve really only had Jorgen who has had a fever,” Solbakken said. “But then there’s been a bit of coughing and rasping evenly, scattered throughout. But there’s air conditioning, flights, changing rooms and all that. We’re over 50 people so it would be strange if one or the other didn’t come.”
Solbakken will hope to have Pedersen available come the weekend, even if he has a more than able replacement in Julian Ryerson. “I think, without being a doctor, that it’s a combination of the boy being young, he’s come to the World Cup and thought, ‘I’m going to be a backup for Julian’. He’s had two games and played great, got a lot of impressions, his head is full, his body is full of impressions, and the system is collapsing a bit,” Solbakken added.
England's injury concerns
England, meanwhile, are not without their fitness concerns. Thomas Tuchel is sweating on the wellbeing of several key individuals. Reece James' hamstring strain has ruled him out of the last three matches, while Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka have been nursed through the competition. Jordan Henderson will play no further part as he requires surgery on the freak arm injury he suffered during celebrations after England's 3-2 last-16 victory over Mexico.
The experienced Brentford midfielder landed awkwardly when he slipped while climbing over a barrier at the Azteca Stadium on Sunday, and video footage showed his forearm buckling. After leaving the field on a stretcher and receiving oxygen, Henderson was taken to hospital in Mexico City and did not travel back to England's training base in Kansas City with the rest of the squad. A member of England's medical staff stayed behind with him.
The 36-year-old Henderson was an unused substitute against Mexico, but the former Liverpool captain is among the squad's most respected figures, providing leadership, experience and a calming influence.
