Reece James faces uncertainty regarding his participation in England’s World Cup quarter-final against Norway in Miami this Saturday, having missed training with the team once again on Wednesday.
The right-back has been sidelined since sustaining a hamstring injury during England’s second group match—a goalless draw with Ghana in Boston. At that time, Thomas Tuchel anticipated James would be out for at least two matches and possibly the last 16 tie, which has indeed come to pass.
James did not contribute to the thrilling victory over Mexico at Estadio Azteca on Monday. Despite aiming for a comeback in the quarter-finals, his individual training session away from the squad in Kansas City raised concerns.
Concerns at Right-Back Position
Tuchel is confronted with a significant dilemma at the right-back position. Jarell Quansah, who filled the role against Mexico, received a red card and will be suspended for the match against Norway. The Football Association is contemplating an appeal regarding this decision.
While Declan Rice and Marc Guéhi also trained separately on Wednesday, their situations appear less severe. Rice has been managing nerve pain in his hamstring since Christmas and missed the third group match against Panama, which England won 2-0. He believes he can continue playing despite the discomfort. Guéhi’s absence was due to muscle fatigue.
Jordan Henderson’s Continued Support
Jordan Henderson has opted to remain with the England squad instead of returning home after suffering an arm fracture that ended his tournament. The Brentford midfielder sustained the injury in an unfortunate fall after the Mexico match and underwent surgery in Mexico City. He is keen to lend his leadership and experience to the team.
England enters this quarter-final as strong favorites to capitalize on their momentum from the Azteca and advance to the semi-finals. However, Norway, led by Martin Ødegaard, poses a formidable challenge. Historically, the notion of Norway defeating Brazil seemed far-fetched, yet they accomplished it with flair. Ødegaard, speaking prior to the squad’s training at Inter Miami’s stadium under the sweltering midday sun, is eager for a repeat of that performance.
“It’s going to be a big test for us but I think Brazil was the same,” he 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.”
Rumors circulating in Norwegian media suggested illness within the camp, but Ødegaard and head coach Ståle Solbakken dismissed these claims. The minor throat irritation likely stemmed from repeated exposure to air conditioning, and there are no health concerns ahead of Saturday’s match.
Following the emotional encounter with Mexico, Tuchel and the players took some time to relax. They had a warm-down session in Kansas City on Monday, followed by a full day off on Tuesday, allowing players to spend quality time with their families.
