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The Norwegian national team have reportedly been hit by a bout of sickness ahead of their World Cup quarter-final against England on Saturday.
The Vikings booked their place in the last eight with a 2-1 victory over Carlo Ancelotti’s Brazil in New Jersey on Sunday.
It was a result which sparked jubilant scenes on the pitch at the MetLife Stadium as the Norwegians performed their signature ‘Viking Row’ along with the thousands of fans packed into the stands. Later, Erling Haaland, Martin Odegaard and Co were said to have headed out to celebrate.
‘I let the support staff celebrate for themselves,’ manager Stale Solbakken said of the post-match antics. ‘I was too tired, so I went to bed and watched the game. Scrolled a little here and there and answered a few text messages. Got very little sleep.
‘They (the players) were allowed to go out and enjoy themselves. But free rein? It’s the World Cup.’
Yet in the aftermath of their scalp of Brazil, Norway are reported to have been hit by fears of fatigue and fitness.
Erling Haaland booked Norway’s place in the quarter-finals with a brace in the 2-1 defeat of Brazil on Sunday
The victory sparked jubilant scenes on the pitch at the MetLife Stadium as the swuad performed their signature ‘Viking Row’ celebration
Since landing in North America last month, the Scandinavians have travelled thousands of miles. Having begun their campaign in Boston, the Vikings flew to New Jersey, before heading back to Boston and then down to Dallas. Their Round of 16 match against Brazil was meanwhile played in New Jersey.
And, according to Norwegian outlet Dagbladet, all of that jet-setting has taken its toll on the squad.
Crystal Palace forward Jorgen Strand Larsen missed the opening game of the tournament through illness, while Marcus Holmgren Pedersen was absent from the clash against Brazil with a bug. Manager Solbakken was meanwhile spotted coughing violently at a press conference after Norway’s 4-1 defeat to France.
Solbakken admitted this week that all of the travelling may indeed be taking its toll on the squad.
‘We’ve really only had Jorgen who has had a fever,’ he said. ‘But then there’s been a bit of coughing and rasping evenly, scattered throughout.
‘But there’s air conditioning, flights, changing rooms and all that. We’re over 50 people so it would be strange if one or the other didn’t come.’
Norway are set to travel south from their base in Greensboro, North Carolina, down to Miami later today, giving them more than four days to prepare for Saturday’s clash with England.
Prior to this tournament the Norwegians had never made it past the group stages of a major tournament and will play a side ranked some 15 places above them for a place in the semi-finals.
Solbakken said: ‘We have to study England but obviously we have seen them in their previous games in the tournament and they will be a very strong opponent but hopefully it will be a very even and tight game.’
The Three Lions head into the match on the back of a historic 3-2 victory at the Azteca Stadium, spearheaded by Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane, on Monday.
Thomas Tuchel’s side will be without Jarell Quansah following his red card against Mexico and Jordan Henderson through injury. Whether Reece James will recover from his knock in time remains to be seen.
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