Norway team struck by illness in days before England World Cup quarter-final | OneFootball

Norway’s coach has said that some of his players are suffering from illness ahead of Saturday’s World Cup quarter-final with England.

On Sunday, Norway knocked out five-time champions Brazil in a 2-1 win, with Neymar’s late penalty proving nothing but a consolation after Erling Haaland’s fine double.

Hours later, England overcame Mexico in Mexico City in a 3-2 thriller, with a Jude Bellingham brace and Harry Kane penalty guiding the Three Lions into the last eight.

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Norway players in training ahead of their last-32 game (Getty)

There, Norway await in Miami on Saturday, but Stale Solbakken’s team may not be at full fitness for that clash.

Solbakken told the media on Tuesday that some of his squad had been struggling with illness, although he did say they were recovering.

“We’ve had a few players who haven’t been feeling well, but things are getting better,” he said. “It’s not ideal during a tournament, but we’re managing the situation.”

Norwegian publication Dagbladet reported that striker Jorgen Strand Larsen was one of the players affected, as well as defender Marcus Holmgren Pedersen, who missed the Brazil tie due to sickness.

Crystal Palace’s Strand Larsen actually missed Norway’s opening game at the World Cup, a 4-1 win over Iraq, due to illness, while Pedersen has been struck by a cough and struggled with tiredness this week, according to Solbakken.

Solbakken also suggested that assistant coach Kent Bergersen had been unwell in recent days.

Norway’s opening victory over Iraq gave way to a 3-2 win against Senegal and a 4-1 loss to France, although Solbakken made 10 changes to his starting line-up for that clash with the tournament favourites.

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Norway and Crystal Palace striker Jorgen Strand Larsen (Getty)

Norway then saw off Ivory Coast 2-1 in the last 32 and Brazil in the last 16 to set up their showdown with England, who will be without Jarell Quansah after the right back was shown a straight red card against Mexico.

England have considered appealing Quansah’s one-game ban, however, after a stunning episode involving USA striker Folarin Balogun.

The forward was sent off during USA’s last-32 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina, but his one-game ban was suspended after US president Donald Trump phoned Fifa chief Gianni Infantino. USA nevertheless lost 4-1 to Belgium in the last 16 on Monday.

England will also be without Jordan Henderson, who injured his wrist after falling over an advertising board while celebrating the win over Mexico. However, the veteran midfielder was actually an unused substitute in that tie, and has not played much at all during the competition.