There are World Cup quarterfinals and there are World Cup quarterfinals where your opponent’s striker has scored seven goals in four matches including twice against Brazil, your midfield general is in surgery recovering from a wrist injury sustained falling over an advertising board in Mexico City, several of your opponent’s players are reportedly ill which is either a vulnerability or a distraction, the match is at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, at 5 p.m. ET, and your manager has committed to singing the national anthem only if you reach the final, which is one win away, and England face Norway tonight.
Erling Haaland has scored seven goals in four World Cup matches. He is 25 years old. He plays for Manchester City. He is 6 feet 4 inches. He scored twice against Brazil in Norway’s round of 16 victory and then stood in front of an enormous crowd and did the Viking row celebration with his teammates while the Brazilian fans absorbed what had happened. He will play at Hard Rock Stadium tonight. England’s central defenders are Ezri Konsa and Marc Guehi. Both are good footballers.
Jordan Henderson, England’s most experienced midfielder, underwent surgery on his left wrist after falling over an advertising board while celebrating England’s winning penalty against Mexico at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City, which is a specific way to end a World Cup campaign. He has been ruled out for the remainder of the tournament. He is 36 years old and became the first England man to appear in four different World Cups in this tournament, a record that he achieved and then celebrated himself into surgery. John Stones, also 36, is without a club after leaving Manchester City and is expected to cover in a back five if Tuchel needs to reshape. Anthony Gordon is expected to keep his place on the left wing.
Several Norway players have been dealing with illness ahead of the match, per GB News, which is either a meaningful advantage for England or the kind of story that jinxes whoever reports it. Norway’s manager has not confirmed the extent of the illness. Harry Kane has not scored since the penalty against Mexico. Kane has 93 international goals in 104 appearances, which is a rate that suggests a goal is forthcoming and does not specify when.
Tuchel has not sung God Save The King. The final is July 19 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. England are one win away. The anthem is one win away. Norway are between both.
When England face Norway and Erling Haaland with a depleted midfield, a manager who hasn’t sung the anthem, and a striker who last scored via penalty, what does tonight answer?
Sources
GB News: Norway rocked by sickness fears ahead of World Cup match with England
GB News: England considering emergency plan ahead of Norway World Cup clash
HuffPost: 2026 FIFA World Cup Live Updates
