Problems are starting to pile up for Thomas Tuchel (Image: Getty)
Everything you need to know from the England camp ahead of Saturday’s World Cup quarter-final against Norway
England are preparing for this Saturday’s crucial World Cup quarter-final against Norway in Miami. Thomas Tuchel and his team are still dealing with the aftermath and physical demands of their dramatic last-16 victory over Mexico. Midfielder Declan Rice missed practice on Wednesday and Thursday as he battles illness. Rice was already dealing with neurological issues affecting his hamstring and lower back. Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka has insisted he is fully fit and available despite suffering a lingering Achilles problem. His time on the pitch has been closely monitored by the coaching team throughout the tournament to aid his rehabilitation. Saka has adjusted his approach to provide a meaningful contribution regardless of minutes played. He emphasized that his main objective is to contribute to the team’s victory, whether it’s by scoring or defending. The winger called for calm after feeling the excitement of defeating Mexico in the previous match. He pointed out that the team must forget about the emotional roller coaster and focus completely on the unique test that Norway presents. Chelsea defender Reece James also hopes to be included in the squad after accelerating his return from a hamstring injury. He has missed the last three games, but aims to be involved at least in some capacity in Saturday’s matchup. Choosing James in the starting XI would be a considerable gamble for Tuchel, given his recent absence from competitive action. However, his potential return would be a welcome step forward for a team currently battling multiple defensive concerns. It has already been confirmed that England will be without defender Jarrell Quansah for their next match. The Bayer Leverkusen manager received a red card in the match against Mexico and has been suspended for two games by FIFA. With Quansah absent, manager Thomas Tuchel is expected to have Jed Spence start at right-back in the quarter-finals, allowing the manager to maintain his favorite centre-back pairing. There are persistent doubts about centre-back Marc Guehi, who missed training this week after sustaining a minor hamstring injury in the game against Mexico. Mexico. BBC Sport reports that if he fails to return to training on Friday, his appearance against Norway is uncertain.
