The concerns are not limited to general tournament fatigue. Jorgen Strand Larsen reportedly missed Norway’s group-stage opener against Iraq because of sickness, while Marcus Holmgren Pedersen was absent for the victory over Brazil with a bug.
Manager Stale Solbakken has also experienced symptoms. The report says he was seen coughing during a press conference and acknowledged coughing and throat problems across the travelling party. He previously indicated that Strand Larsen had been the only player with a fever.
That uncertainty matters most in a knockout match, where a weakened bench can affect pressing intensity, substitutions and late-game control.
Norway’s schedule has involved repeated long-distance moves:
The report says Solbakken allowed his players to celebrate after beating Brazil, a result that took Norway into the last eight for the first time. That relief was understandable, but the combination of celebrations, flights and changing environments leaves limited recovery time.
Norway’s wins over Ivory Coast and Brazil show they have handled pressure on the pitch. The immediate issue is whether they can reproduce that intensity against England after such a compressed turnaround.
The report says Norway are expected to have four days in Miami to prepare. That window will be crucial for assessing Strand Larsen and Pedersen, monitoring wider symptoms and restoring energy across the squad.
The next storyline is clear: Norway’s final training sessions before Saturday’s quarter-final should reveal whether illness remains a selection problem or becomes a manageable tournament nuisance.