England's World Cup quarter-final against Norway on Saturday could be delayed by severe thunderstorms and heavy rain forecast in the Miami area. The match is scheduled to kick off at 10pm BST (5pm local time) at Hard Rock Stadium.
Weather Threatens Kick-Off
Forecasts indicate overcast skies, torrential rain, and potentially violent thunderstorms will engulf Miami on Saturday. FIFA regulations stipulate that any lightning strikes within eight miles (13km) of the stadium will result in temporary stoppages to safeguard players and spectators. This rule has been in place throughout the World Cup.
England advanced to the quarter-finals after a dramatic 3-2 victory over Mexico in their last-16 tie on Sunday night in Mexico City. That fixture was delayed by an hour due to thunderstorms and heavy rain at the scheduled 1am BST kick-off.
Henderson Ruled Out
Adding to England's concerns, midfielder Jordan Henderson suffered an injury while celebrating the win over Mexico. The Brentford star stumbled over advertising hoardings and landed badly, trapping his arm beneath him. According to Mirror Football writer John Cross, Henderson is remaining in Mexico City for treatment and is unlikely to feature again this summer.
Speaking on the podcast Make Football Great Again, Cross said: "Well, it feels like it might be [his World Cup over], to be honest. I know it's a sort of a wrist/arm injury which, you know, you probably get in plaster and what have you, but that early stage is going to be difficult for him and as the team travels back to their base in Kansas City, Jordan Henderson is staying behind in Mexico City to kind of have this set and repaired. It feels as if it's probably going to be his World Cup over. What an absolute hammer blow, really, because he was put up in the press conference pre-match, Tuchel clearly thinks he's going to say the right thing and sort of motivate the troops. I just thought, wow, that's so heartbreaking. He's such a good character and person and leader. I think that that's absolutely devastating for him."
Match Details
England will face Norway in Miami on Saturday. The Three Lions are seeking a place in the semi-finals, while Norway will be looking to cause an upset. Fans are advised to monitor weather updates as the match approaches.
