Norway's team doctor issues update after claim squad had been hit with sickness bug
Norway’s team doctor has reassured concerned fans over fears of a sickness crisis inside the squad.
The clarification comes after team manager Ståle Solbakken’s comments sparked speculation ahead of their World Cup quarter-final clash with England this Saturday (11 July) in Miami.
Solbakken had been speaking in a post-match conference after Norway’s incredible 2-1 defeat of Brazil, revealing that one or two players had been feeling under the weather.
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Explaining the absence of defender Marcus Pedersen during the match, Solbakken said that the player ‘felt like his body wasn’t quite keeping up’ on the day of the game.
The former Wolves manager went on to reveal that striker Jørgen Strand Larsen had also been affected by a fever and that there had been “a bit of coughing and rasping scattered throughout.”
Naturally, this led to concerns that the squad might have been struck down by a bug at the worst possible time.
But team doctor Ola Sand has confirmed that there is no major issue hanging over the group and assured fans that “All players are healthy now.”
Sand told online paper Nettavisen that, in fact, there was “very little fuss” considering the last six weeks of travelling, training and spending almost every hour together.
Asked about the reports of a ‘sickness bug’ amongst the Norwegian players doing the rounds in the media, Sand told the outlet: “So great that they believe this. We are in control.”
Solbakken’s original comments were less about a full-blown sickness scare and more about the realities of life at a World Cup, with six weeks of travelling, training and playing inevitably taking some energy out of the squad.
“There’s air conditioning, flights, changing rooms and all that,” he had said.
“We’re over 50 people, so it would be strange if one or the other didn’t come.”
Norway are now hoping their preparations can return to normal as they get ready to face England, with a place in the semi-finals up for grabs.
The team will no doubt arrive in Miami full of confidence after one of the biggest results in their history, knocking out five-time world champions Brazil thanks to an Erling Haaland-inspired 2-1 victory.
England, meanwhile, will be looking to continue their own World Cup charge, having just defeated Mexico in a 3-2 win on Monday (6 July).
The two teams will go head to head in Miami, Florida on Saturday 11 July at 10pm GMT.
Ali Condon