England Sweat On Guehi, Rice Fitness, Quansah Banned For Norway World Cup Clash

England face an anxious wait over Marc Guehi’s fitness ahead of Saturday’s World Cup quarter-final against Norway after the defender picked up a slight hamstring injury in the dramatic 3-2 last-16 win over Mexico at the Azteca Stadium.

The centre-back will be assessed later today after initial hopes that he was only suffering from muscular fatigue ended. Guehi is now understood to have a hamstring strain, although the problem is not considered serious.

The Manchester City defender remains determined to prove his fitness, but failure to train with the England squad on Friday would cast major doubt over his involvement against a Norway side led by seven-goal striker Erling Haaland.

England boss Thomas Tuchel also continues to monitor Declan Rice, who missed training for a second straight day because of a sickness bug. Rice had already been managing a neural issue affecting his hamstring and lower back before illness worsened the situation. The England camp has introduced measures to prevent the bug from spreading through the squad.

There was more encouraging news elsewhere, with Reece James returning to full training on Thursday for the first time since injuring his hamstring during the goalless group-stage draw with Ghana. Although the Chelsea right-back did not complete the entire session, he is expected to be available against Norway if he suffers no reaction.

England’s defensive concerns deepened after Jarell Quansah received a two-match suspension following his red card against Mexico. The Bayer Leverkusen defender was dismissed in the 54th minute for a high challenge on Jesus Gallardo, with FIFA’s disciplinary committee ruling it serious foul play and adding an extra match to the automatic one-game ban.

The suspension rules Quansah out of the quarter-final against Norway and a possible semi-final against Argentina or Switzerland. The 23-year-old would only be eligible again if England reach the World Cup final in New Jersey on 19 July.

The Football Association explored the possibility of an appeal but tournament regulations offer no route to challenge the sanction. However, the FA strongly questioned the video review process, arguing the referee saw a still image and slow-motion replays before viewing the challenge at normal speed on the pitchside monitor, a sequence it believes could have created “outcome bias”.

French referee Clement Turpin has been appointed by FIFA to officiate Saturday’s quarter-final after previously taking charge of England’s 4-2 victory over Croatia earlier in the tournament.