England manager Thomas Tuchel was upset after Jarrell Quansah was handed a two-match ban. (Image: Getty)
Latest World Cup headlines as France beat Morocco, England suffer injury concerns ahead of Norway
Marc Guehi injury: The England defender faces a race against time after being diagnosed with a minor hamstring problem after the game against Mexico. His condition will be assessed before the crucial quarter-final, but it is highly unlikely that manager Thomas Tuchel will bet on an unprepared player against Norway’s formidable front line. Kylian Mbappé’s fitness: The France captain sparked injury concerns after he was sent off late in the match against Morocco and was found with ice wrapped around his ankle. Coach Didier Deschamps was quick to deny any serious concerns, confirming that it was just a minor jolt and that his talisman would be available for the semi-final. Erling Haaland’s displeasure: The Norwegian frontman turned to social media and launched a scathing attack on the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) who was on standby for too long before France’s penalty against Morocco. He expressed frustration, arguing that forcing players to wait more than three minutes before taking a spot-kick was completely excessive. England squad update: Right-back Reece James is trying to show he is ready after a hamstring injury, but the final determination of his availability will be a huge gamble. In positive news, Bukayo Saka has confirmed that he has fully recovered from his Achilles tendon injury and is ready for the match against Norway, giving the team great encouragement. Jarrell Quansah suspended: England manager Thomas Tuchel was upset after FIFA handed the defender a two-match ban following his red card against Mexico. Tuchel immediately instructed the Football Association to lodge an official complaint, focusing in particular on the VAR procedures adopted by match officials Bukayo Saka’s reaction: The Arsenal winger admitted that the news of Quansah’s suspension being extended was extremely disappointing for the entire England squad. However, he stressed that the players cannot afford to be dissatisfied and must quickly adjust their approach to beat Norway. ITV studio evacuation: Broadcaster ITV has been forced to abandon its rooftop studio in New York during live coverage of France vs. Morocco due to extreme weather. Presenter Mark Pugach clarified that experts had to move to an indoor location due to strict safety protocols regarding localized lightning. Roy Keane’s review: The outspoken pundit vigorously defended Mbappé for wasting the penalty, arguing that the three-minute delay unfairly shifted the psychological advantage back to the goalkeeper’s side. Confrontation with Mbappé: The striker angrily challenged the referee during a drinks break after his weak penalty attempt was thwarted by Yassin Bounou. His frustration was compounded by French supporters’ dissatisfaction with the selection of an all-Argentine refereeing team for the match.
