Norway's team doctor has dismissed reports of a sickness bug sweeping through the squad ahead of their World Cup quarter-final against England, calling the claims exaggerated. Ola Sand told Norwegian outlet Nettavisen that all players are fit and ready for the match in Miami on Saturday.
Haaland double secures quarter-final spot
Erling Haaland scored twice in the second half to give Norway a 2-1 win over Brazil, setting up a last-eight clash with England. The match kicks off at 10pm BST in Miami.
Earlier this week, Norway head coach Stale Solbakken had raised concerns about the squad's health due to extensive travel across the United States. The team has been based in Greensboro, North Carolina, and played group games in Boston, New York, and Dallas.
Solbakken's comments on illness
Solbakken mentioned that only striker Jorgen Strand Larsen had suffered a fever, with some coughing and rasping among other players. 'There’s air conditioning, flights, changing rooms and all that. There’s 50 people [in Norway’s travelling party], so it would be strange if something or other didn’t crop up,' he said.
However, Sand pushed back against the narrative of a widespread bug. 'All players are healthy now. Very little fuss considering that we have been close together for almost six weeks,' he said. When asked about English media headlines, Sand added sarcastically: 'So great that they believe this. We are in control.'
Strand Larsen's earlier illness
Despite Sand's reassurances, Strand Larsen revealed that his illness at the start of the tournament was more severe than publicly known. 'I had been in the hospital bed for two days straight and was really sick,' he told Nettavisen. 'At first you get scared. I woke up the day before the match and felt it a little, and then it was worse than I had imagined.'
The striker recovered in time to be on the bench for Norway's opening group game against Iraq on June 16, a 4-1 win. He said his smile returned on match day, signaling his recovery.
Norway will face England in Miami with both teams aiming for a place in the World Cup semi-finals.
