Norway's World Cup campaign faces an unexpected challenge as multiple players are dealing with illness heading into their quarterfinal match against England.
The squad has seen players battling symptoms throughout the tournament, a situation manager Stale Solbakken described as "not ideal" but manageable. "We’ve had a few players who haven’t been feeling well, but things are getting better," Solbakken stated.
Jorgen Strand Larsen missed Norway's opening match with a fever, and defender Marcus Holmgren Pedersen was unavailable for the Round of 16 victory over Brazil due to illness. Solbakken noted that while Larsen had a fever, other players have experienced scattered coughing and respiratory symptoms, which he attributed to factors common in tournament travel, such as air conditioning, flights, and changing rooms.
This period of sickness comes at a critical juncture for Norway, which is experiencing its best World Cup performance by reaching the quarterfinals for the first time. Previous best showings for the team were Round of 16 exits in 1938 and 1998.
The team is preparing to face England, a formidable opponent that advanced by defeating Mexico. The added burden of managing player health complicates Norway's preparation for this significant match, which is scheduled to take place in Miami.
Solbakken acknowledged that the extensive travel and rapid turnaround between matches across North America could be contributing factors to the team's health issues. "We’re over 50 people so it would be strange if one or the other didn’t come," he commented on the prevalence of minor ailments within the large group.
Despite these concerns, Norway, led by star player Erling Haaland, aims to continue its historic run against England.