England are reportedly facing fitness concerns regarding Marc Guehi and Declan Rice ahead of their World Cup quarter-final match against Norway. Both players are considered doubts for the upcoming fixture, adding to selection challenges for manager Thomas Tuchel.
Marc Guehi has been absent from training this week due to a sore hamstring, an injury sustained after the victory against Mexico. Meanwhile, Declan Rice has been kept separate from the squad due to illness, with concerns about a potential spread of a bug within the team. Jarell Quansah is already unavailable for the quarter-final, serving a two-match ban following a red card.
Adding to the defensive worries, Reece James is also in a race against time to prove his fitness for the last-eight clash. The right-back has been recovering from a hamstring injury he picked up during England‘s second group game, a 0-0 draw against Ghana. He was unable to train with the main squad on Wednesday, instead following an individual programme.
Thomas Tuchel faces significant decisions regarding his defensive lineup, particularly concerning whether to risk players who are not fully fit. The team is preparing to face a Norway side that recently eliminated Brazil from the tournament.
Squad fitness updates
Reports indicate that the primary concern for England is the fitness of Marc Guehi, who has a slight hamstring strain. Declan Rice‘s absence from the squad is due to illness, with measures taken to prevent it from spreading among the players. While Rice has been managing nerve pain in a hamstring since Christmas and missed a previous group game, there is reportedly less concern over his involvement against Norway compared to other players.
Jordan Henderson has rejoined the England camp in Kansas City after undergoing surgery for an arm fracture sustained after the Mexico game. Although it has been presumed that he will not play again in the tournament, teammate Morgan Rogers suggested that the players have not ruled him out, highlighting Henderson‘s leadership and experience as valuable to the squad.
England‘s base camp in Kansas City has been described as beneficial by Morgan Rogers, providing a sense of familiarity and comfort for the players despite the travel required for matches. Norway, in contrast, has opted for a different approach, travelling from venue to venue.
Norway’s preparations
Norway‘s team, including midfielder Martin Ødegaard, is preparing for what they anticipate will be a significant test against England. Ødegaard mentioned that facing Brazil was also a major challenge where they were considered underdogs, suggesting that anything can happen in football. He expressed anticipation for the match and acknowledged England‘s strong squad.
Despite earlier rumours in Norwegian media about sickness within their camp, Ødegaard and head coach Ståle Solbakken have downplayed these concerns. Any issues appear to be minor, such as scratchy throats from air-conditioned environments, and are not expected to affect their readiness for the match on Saturday.
Norway‘s striker Erling Haaland has stated that the pressure is on Thomas Tuchel‘s team, potentially looking to capitalise on any defensive adjustments England may need to make.
Morgan Rogers also spoke about teammate Jude Bellingham, noting his strong performance in the tournament so far and suggesting that he is ready to make an impact in the quarter-final. Rogers believes that Bellingham, who is still young, has significant potential for further development.
The World Cup quarter-final match between England and Norway is scheduled to take place in Miami.
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Source: independent.co.uk
George Hartwell is the Senior Football Correspondent at News-GB.org, covering the Premier League, the EFL and the England national side with twelve years of reporting experience. He reported on West Country football before national coverage. He holds a degree in Sports Journalism from the University of the West of England and completed an NCTJ diploma. Based in Bristol, he watches grassroots football and writes a tactics column. “Tactics tell you more than any scoreline.”