England's preparations for their FIFA World Cup 2026 quarter-final against Norway were handed a triple boost as Declan Rice, Marc Guehi and Reece James all took part in training on Friday in Miami. The sight of key players shrugging off fitness concerns will relieve manager Thomas Tuchel ahead of a stern test against the confident Norwegians.
Injury and Illness Concerns Easing
Rice had been struggling with illness following the last-16 win over Mexico and was kept away from the squad, while Guehi missed Thursday's session with a hamstring issue. Both, however, trained without incident at Inter Miami's facility, indicating they are available for selection. James joined group work for the first time in almost three weeks but is being carefully managed and is unlikely to start. Jordan Henderson remains the only absentee after breaking his wrist and arm during post-match celebrations against Mexico, while Jarell Quansah serves a two-game suspension for his red card in that match.
Norway: No Pushovers
Jamie Carragher warned against taking Norway lightly, predicting a tight 2-1 win for England.
"I think Norway will be a tougher proposition than maybe a lot of people think," said the Sky Sports pundit. "I watched them against Brazil and I thought they were fantastic. They totally deserved to win that game. They dominated Brazil possession-wise in that second half."Norway coach Stale Solbakken echoed the sentiment but acknowledged England start as favourites.
"They are favourites, but they're not big, big favourites," he told BBC Sport.Erling Haaland was singled out by Carragher as a threat who "will go down as the greatest goalscorer of all time," while the supporting cast of Premier League talent ensures England cannot focus solely on the Manchester City striker.
Key Takeaways
- Rice and Guehi are fit to face Norway, significantly boosting England's midfield and defence.
- James returns to training but is unlikely to start; Henderson and Quansah are definitely out.
- Norway eliminated Brazil in the last 16 and should not be underestimated.
- England remain favourites, but Norway's confidence and Haaland's form make for an intriguing quarter-final.
Quick Facts
Match: England vs Norway – FIFA World Cup 2026 Quarter-final
Date: Saturday, 11 July 2026
Kick-off: 22:00 BST (17:00 local time)
Venue: Miami, Florida, USA
Broadcast: UK coverage to be confirmed; check Sky Sports for latest updates. International broadcasters yet to be announced.