Injury and Illness Concerns for England Ahead of Norway Quarter-Final

By Callum Ashford — 10 July 2026 — 3 min read

Injury and Illness Concerns for England

England is preparing for their World Cup quarter-final match against Norway in Miami on Saturday, facing several fitness and illness concerns. Reece James remains a significant doubt for the fixture, having been unable to train with the squad on Wednesday. James has been sidelined since sustaining a hamstring injury during England’s second group stage match, a 0-0 draw against Ghana in Boston. He did not participate in the victory against Mexico.

James has been targeting a return for the quarter-finals, but his continued individual training programme away from the main group in Kansas City indicates ongoing issues. The right-back position presents a challenge for England, especially after Jarell Quansah, who started against Mexico, received a red card and is suspended for the Norway game. There are also concerns regarding Djed Spence, who is nursing a minor injury and missed some training sessions leading up to the last 16 tie. His recovery in the coming days will be crucial for his availability.

Declan Rice and Marc Guéhi also trained individually on Wednesday, though their involvement against Norway is considered less concerning. Rice has been managing nerve pain in a hamstring since Christmas and missed the 2-0 victory against Panama, but has stated he can play through the discomfort. Guéhi’s absence from team training was attributed to muscle fatigue.

Squad Adjustments and Norwegian Confidence

In light of the defensive challenges, Ezri Konsa is a potential option for the right-back role if neither James nor Spence are fit to start. Konsa played in this position in a back five against Mexico. Utilising Konsa at right-back would necessitate a defensive reshuffle, potentially involving John Stones moving to centre-back. Stones is still regaining his form after limited play, having struggled in England’s opening match against Croatia and subsequently being dropped for the Ghana game.

Despite the fitness issues, Jordan Henderson has returned to the England camp in Kansas City after undergoing surgery for a fractured arm. While it is presumed Henderson will not play again in the tournament, his teammate Morgan Rogers suggested the players are not ruling him out, highlighting Henderson’s leadership and experience as valuable to the squad.

England’s manager, Thomas Tuchel, had given the players a mini-break after the physical and emotional demands of the Mexico match, with a warm-down session on Monday and a full day off on Tuesday. Rogers noted the benefits of their fixed base camp in Kansas City, which provides a sense of familiarity and comfort, contrasting with Norway’s approach of travelling from venue to venue.

On the Norwegian side, rumours of sickness in their camp were downplayed by captain Martin Ødegaard and head coach Ståle Solbakken, suggesting minor issues like scratchy throats from air-conditioned environments. Ødegaard expressed confidence ahead of the match, drawing parallels to their victory against Brazil, where they were considered underdogs. He acknowledged England’s strong squad but emphasized Norway’s determination to compete.

Rogers also spoke about Jude Bellingham, who has displayed impressive form throughout the tournament. Rogers believes Bellingham, who is , has his prime years ahead and will continue to improve, noting his ability to perform in crucial moments during games.

England’s defence showed resilience, playing 47 minutes with 10 men and conceding minimal non-penalty xG on target. However, the upcoming match against Norway and Erling Haaland is expected to present a more significant test for England’s stretched defence.

The quarter-final match between England and Norway is scheduled for Saturday.

Source: theguardian.com