Norway’s preparations for the World Cup quarter-finals against England have been severely disrupted.
Erling Braut Haaland scored two goals as Norway beat Brazil 2-1 and surprisingly made it to the quarter-finals for the whole world besides us here at home. With their goal-scoring striker in great form, it is with good reason that the Norwegians believe in another sensation against the Three Lions.
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But after the jubilation of beating Brazil – world champions as many as five times – national team manager Ståle Solbakken is increasingly worried about all the travel the squad has had to endure.
Norway’s World Cup adventure has already involved flights back and forth to Boston, in addition to matches in New Jersey and Dallas.
Sunday’s win over Brazil was played in New York – and Norway has to take new flights before Saturday’s match against England in Miami.
Crystal Palace striker Jørgen Strand Larsen will miss the opening match of the championship due to illness. Marcus Holmgren Pedersen was also unavailable against Brazil with social sickness.
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Solbakken was also observed coughing heavily during a press conference after Norway’s 4-1 loss to France in the group stage.
“It’s really only Jørgen who has had a fever,” says the national team manager.
“But then there has been a bit of coughing and hoarseness evenly distributed, spread out in the squad.
“It’s air conditioning, flights, changing rooms and all sorts of things. We are over 50 people, so it would be strange if someone didn’t get infected.
Solbakken hopes to have Pedersen available for the weekend, even though he has a more than capable replacement in Julian Ryerson.
“I think, without being a doctor, that it’s a combination of the boy being young, that he has come to the World Cup and thought: ‘I’m going to be a backup for Julian’.
“He’s played two games and done great, got a lot of impressions – his head is full, his body is full of impressions, and the system collapses a bit.
England also have their injury concerns. Thomas Tuchel fears for the form of several key players.
Reece James’ hamstring strain has kept him out of the last three games, while Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka have been nurtured and kept going throughout the championship.
Jordan Henderson, on the other hand, is out for the rest of the tournament. He has to undergo surgery for an unusual arm injury he suffered during the celebrations after the 3-2 win over Mexico in the round of eight.
There was immediate concern for Henderson.
The experienced Brentford midfielder landed unluckily when he slipped while climbing over a railing at the Azteca stadium on Sunday. Video images show that his forearm bent unnaturally.
After leaving the pitch on a stretcher and receiving oxygen, Henderson was taken to hospital in Mexico City – and did not return to England’s training base in Kansas City with the rest of Tuchel’s squad. A member of the English support staff stayed with him.
The 36-year-old Henderson was a substitute against Mexico, but the former Liverpool captain is one of the most respected figures in the squad – a leader with experience and a calming presence.
