Reece James faces uncertainty for England’s World Cup quarter-final clash with Norway on Saturday in Miami, as he was once again unable to join the team for training on Wednesday.
The right-back has been sidelined since suffering a hamstring injury during England’s second group match, a 0-0 draw with Ghana in Boston. Thomas Tuchel, the team’s manager, had anticipated being without him for a minimum of two matches, which has proven accurate as he did not feature in the dramatic victory over Mexico at the Estadio Azteca on Monday.
James had hoped to return for the quarter-finals, but it was a concerning sign that he participated in an individual training regimen away from the main squad in Kansas City, where England is currently based.
Right-Back Dilemma for England
Tuchel is confronted with a significant challenge at right-back. Jarell Quansah, who started in the role against Mexico, received a red card and will be suspended for the upcoming match against Norway. The Football Association is reportedly considering an appeal regarding his dismissal.
Meanwhile, Declan Rice and Marc Guéhi also trained separately on Wednesday, although there is less worry about their availability for the quarter-final. Rice has been managing nerve pain in his hamstring since Christmas, which forced him to miss the third group match against Panama, a game England won 2-0. He has expressed confidence in his ability to play despite the discomfort. Guéhi’s absence from team training was attributed to muscle fatigue.
Injury Updates and Team Morale
Jordan Henderson has rejoined the England camp instead of returning home following his tournament-ending arm fracture. The Brentford midfielder sustained the injury in a freak accident after the match against Mexico and underwent surgery while remaining in Mexico City. He is eager to contribute his leadership and experience to the squad.
England enters the quarter-finals as strong favorites, riding the wave of momentum generated by their performance at the Azteca. However, Norway and their star player Martin Ødegaard are poised to challenge this expectation. In past tournaments, a Norwegian victory over Brazil would have been inconceivable; yet they achieved that feat in style, and Ødegaard is looking to replicate that success.
“It’s going to be a big test for us but I think Brazil was the same,” Ødegaard said. “We were the underdogs but, as you saw, anything can happen in football. We’re going to give it a good try, see what we can do and we are looking forward to it.
“We were the underdogs but, as you saw, anything can happen in football. We’re going to give it a good try, see what we can do and we are looking forward to it. “[England have] unbelievable players, it’s a massive test. We’re looking forward to it and hopefully we can make even more history.”
Amid rumors of illness within the Norwegian camp, Ødegaard and head coach Ståle Solbakken have downplayed the situation. The symptoms, including a scratchy throat likely caused by prolonged exposure to air conditioning, do not pose any concerns ahead of Saturday’s match.
Following the emotional intensity of the match against Mexico, Tuchel and the players enjoyed a brief respite. They engaged in a warm-down session in Kansas City on Monday and took a complete day off on Tuesday, allowing them to spend time with their families.
