Norway goalkeeper Orjan Nyland has confirmed that a sickness bug is affecting the team ahead of their World Cup quarter-final against England, stating that the team doctor is "very busy at the moment."
Norway's Historic Run and Sickness Concerns
Norway reached the World Cup quarter-finals for the first time in their history after stunning Brazil with a late brace from Erling Haaland. They now face England on Saturday, but concerns have emerged over a sickness bug that has impacted the squad during preparations.
Nyland told James Corden: "I can confirm that it's true, we've had our issues, we're doing the best we can and the team doctor is very busy at the moment. I have no idea what the source was, we did have some time off so maybe someone contracted something. Hopefully everything goes well and we face England with a fully rested squad on Saturday."
Impact on Squad and Previous Illnesses
The sickness bug has already caused disruptions, with Marcus Holmgren Pedersen missing the historic win over Brazil. Crystal Palace striker Jorgen Strand Larsen was also absent from Norway's World Cup opener due to illness. Norwegian outlet Dagbladet reports that fatigue from extensive air travel may have contributed, as the team is based in Greensboro, North Carolina and has played matches in Boston, New Jersey, and Dallas.
Norway manager Stale Solbakken commented after the 4-1 loss to France in their final group game: "There's been a bit of coughing and rasping evenly, scattered throughout. But there's air conditioning, flights, changing rooms and all that. We're over 50 people so it would be strange if one or the other didn't come."
Outlook for England Clash
Despite the illness, Norway remains hopeful of fielding a strong squad against England. With Haaland in form, they aim to pull off another upset. The team is doing its best to manage the situation and ensure players are ready for the quarter-final.
