England is monitoring the fitness of defender Reece James as the team prepares for its World Cup quarter-final match against Norway. James did not participate in full squad training with Thomas Tuchel's team in Kansas City on Wednesday, opting for individual training instead.
He has not played since England's second group stage game, a goalless draw against Ghana. There is hope he can prove his fitness before the team travels to Miami for the Saturday match.
Declan Rice and Marc Guehi also sat out the main session, following personalized training programs to manage their physical load after a demanding match on Sunday. Both are expected to be available for the upcoming game.
Adding to the pre-match concerns are potential weather disruptions. Forecasts predict thunderstorms in Miami around the time of the quarter-final, which could lead to delays. England's previous match in Mexico City was postponed by an hour due to storms.
The match is scheduled to kick off in temperatures potentially reaching 34 degrees Celsius (93 degrees Fahrenheit), with intermittent storms predicted from 2 p.m., three hours before the scheduled start. Matches are subject to a 30-minute delay if lightning is detected within an eight-mile radius of the stadium.
Tuchel is reportedly devising strategies to counter the threat of Erling Haaland, who scored two goals in the previous match. Morgan Rogers acknowledged the difficulty of completely stopping the Manchester City forward, stating, "Has anyone ever stopped Erling Haaland? I'm not sure they have." He emphasized the need for a collective team effort to limit Haaland's supply and nullify his impact.
Several England players, including Nico O'Reilly, Guehi, Rice, and Jude Bellingham, are on a yellow card and would miss a potential semi-final if they receive another booking. Jordan Henderson, despite undergoing surgery for a broken wrist, has remained with the squad, with Rogers noting Henderson's dedication to the team's well-being.