Overview
- Norway coach Ståle Solbakken confirmed on Tuesday that several players and staff have felt under the weather with coughs and isolated fevers but said the situation is improving and is being managed.
- Striker Jorgen Strand Larsen missed Norway’s opening match with a fever and Marcus Holmgren Pedersen was unavailable for the 2-1 win over Brazil because of illness.
- The squad will relocate from their Greensboro base to Miami to gain several days of recovery and finalise preparation ahead of Saturday’s World Cup quarter-final at Hard Rock Stadium.
- England arrive with their own selection problems, as Jarell Quansah is suspended, Jordan Henderson is ruled out with a serious arm injury, and Reece James is being assessed for a hamstring issue.
- Coaches and Norwegian reporting point to heavy cross-continent travel, air conditioning and quick turnarounds as likely contributors to fatigue and a circulating bug that could affect on-field availability for both teams.