Norway’s fairy-tale run at the World Cup has hit an unexpected speed bump. A nasty stomach bug has been making its way through the squad ahead of Saturday’s quarterfinal showdown with England in Miami.
Manager Stale Solbakken confirmed that several players have been dealing with flu-like symptoms during the tournament. It’s not ideal timing, obviously, with a spot in the semifinals on the line.
According to Norwegian outlet Dagbladet, striker Jorgen Strand Larsen was among the first to get sick. He actually missed Norway’s opening match because of it. Defender Marcus Holmgren Pedersen also went down with the bug and was unavailable for the round-of-16 win over Brazil. That’s a game Norway won 2-1 thanks to two goals from Erling Haaland, which sent the country to the quarterfinals for the first time ever.
Solbakken himself looked a bit rough during recent media appearances, but he downplayed concerns about the team’s overall condition.
“We’ve had a few players who haven’t been feeling well, but things are getting better,” Solbakken said. “It’s not ideal during a tournament, but we’re managing the situation.”
He also pointed to the travel demands as a possible factor. Norway has been bouncing between host cities, and that kind of grind can wear down even the fittest athletes. Combine that with close quarters in team hotels and it’s a recipe for something to spread.
England Has Its Own Problems
England booked their spot in the last eight with a wild 3-2 win over Mexico in the round of 16. But Thomas Tuchel’s squad isn’t exactly at full strength either.
Defender Jarell Quansah is suspended after getting a red card against Mexico. Jordan Henderson is expected to miss the rest of the tournament with what looks like a broken wrist. And Reece James is being evaluated for a hamstring injury. So both teams are dealing with some absences heading into this one.
England is trying to reach the World Cup semifinals for the first time since 2018. Norway is just trying to keep this dream run alive. The winner will face either Argentina, Egypt, Switzerland or Colombia in the semis.
Norway’s upset of Brazil was one of the bigger stories of the tournament so far. Haaland was the hero that day, but he’ll need some help if the bug keeps spreading. The good news for Solbakken is that the situation appears to be improving. The bad news is that viruses don’t always follow a schedule.
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