Norway's squad has been affected by a sickness bug ahead of their World Cup quarter-final match against England, goalkeeper Orjan Nyland has confirmed.
The team doctor is reportedly very busy dealing with the outbreak, with at least two players already having missed previous matches due to illness. Norway manager Ståle Solbakken was also observed coughing significantly during a press conference.
Nyland acknowledged the reports, stating, "I can confirm that it's true. We've had our issues." He added, "We're doing the best that we can and the team doctor is very busy at the moment." He speculated that the illness might have been contracted during a period of time off after their recent victory.
Crystal Palace forward Jorgen Strand Larsen missed Norway's opening game of the tournament due to illness, and Marcus Holmgren Pedersen was absent from their Round of 16 match against Brazil with a bug. Manager Solbakken noted, "We've really only had Jorgen who has had a fever. But then there's been a bit of coughing and rasping evenly, scattered throughout."
The extensive travel undertaken by the Norwegian team since arriving in North America, including flights between Boston, New Jersey, and Dallas, may have contributed to the squad's fatigue and susceptibility to illness. Their Round of 16 match was played in New Jersey, and the team then traveled for the quarter-final.
Norway secured their spot in the quarter-finals by defeating Brazil 2-1. The team celebrated their victory in the dressing room afterwards. The upcoming match against England marks a significant milestone for Norway, as they have never previously advanced beyond the group stages of a major tournament.
England enters the quarter-final on the back of a 3-2 victory against Mexico. However, they will be without defender Jarell Quansah, who received a red card in the previous match, and midfielder Jordan Henderson, who sustained a broken wrist. The availability of Reece James is also uncertain due to a knock.
The match is scheduled for Saturday at 10 p.m. UK time in Miami, Florida. The winner will advance to face either Argentina or Switzerland in the semi-finals.