England have suffered a major setback ahead of their World Cup quarter-final against Norway after midfield star Declan Rice was struck down by illness. The Arsenal midfielder, who has been managing hamstring and lower back problems, missed training for a second consecutive day due to a sickness bug.
Rice Isolated to Prevent Spread
England's medical staff have taken immediate precautions by isolating Rice from the rest of the squad to prevent the illness from spreading. Sources close to the team insist the situation is under control and the bug has been contained, according to reports.
Rice's absence comes at a crucial time as England prepare for their quarter-final showdown in Miami. The Three Lions are confident the issue will not derail their campaign.
Norway Also Battling Illness
Interestingly, Norway are also dealing with sickness in their camp. Goalkeeper Orjan Nyland confirmed that several squad members have been unwell, revealing that the team's doctor has been "very busy" as players recover. Two Norwegian players have already missed matches due to illness, and head coach Ståle Solbakken raised concerns after repeatedly coughing during a press conference.
Reports suggest Norway's celebrations after their dramatic 2-1 victory over Brazil may have contributed to the outbreak, casting a shadow over both teams ahead of the quarter-final.
Yellow Card Concerns for England
Meanwhile, Nico O’Reilly, one of four England players on a yellow card alongside Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham, and Declan Rice, said the threat of suspension will not affect his approach. If any of them receive a yellow card against Norway, they would miss the semi-final if England progress. O’Reilly stated: "I will approach it the same as every other game. Of course, there’s these risks. If we win and get a yellow card I’d miss the next game, but I’m not focused on that. I’m focused on playing my game and doing what I need to do." He added that the players have not discussed the issue, saying, "It’s not really a discussion that we needed to have, but we’ve all played on yellow cards before."
