England is preparing to face Norway in a World Cup 2026 quarter-final match at the Hard Rock Stadium. The game is scheduled to kick off at 2 AM PKT on July 12. Both teams have announced their starting lineups for the encounter.
For England, the starting XI includes Jordan Pickford (GK), Ezri Konsa, Marc Guéhi, John Stones, and Nico O’Reilly in defense. The midfield will feature Declan Rice and Elliot Anderson, with Noni Madueke, Jude Bellingham, and Anthony Gordon supporting captain Harry Kane upfront.
Norway‘s lineup will see Orjan Nyland in goal, with Julian Ryerson, Kristoffer Ajer, Torbjorn Heggem, and David Moller Wolfe forming the defensive line. The midfield consists of captain Martin Odegaard, Sander Berge, and Patrick Berg. Leading the attack for Norway are Alexander Sorloth, Erling Haaland, and Andreas Schjelderup.
Team Preparations and Injury Updates
Ahead of the quarter-final, England received a boost as Declan Rice, Marc Guéhi, and Reece James returned to training on Friday. Rice had been dealing with an illness following the last-16 victory against Mexico, and Guéhi had been managing a hamstring issue, causing him to miss a training session in Kansas City on Thursday. Both players participated in the training session held in Miami.
Reece James also joined the training session, marking his first appearance since sustaining a hamstring injury during England‘s second group stage match against Ghana. Head coach Thomas Tuchel confirmed that all three players were available for selection for the match on Saturday. Tuchel stated that the team had everyone available in training, which he considered the best news, with the exception of a suspended player.
Jordan Henderson was the only player from the 26-man squad to miss the training session, having broken his wrist and arm during the celebrations after the win over Mexico. Additionally, Jarell Quansah will be unavailable for the match against Norway due to a two-game ban received for a red card in the previous match.
Road to the Quarter-Finals
England secured their spot in the last eight with a hard-fought victory over Mexico. The Three Lions have demonstrated good form throughout the tournament and aim to advance further towards the title. Historically, England has a better head-to-head record against Norway, having won three of their eight previous meetings, while Norway has secured two victories.
Norway enters this fixture with confidence, having defeated Brazil 2-1 in the round of 16. They have maintained a solid performance level throughout the competition and are looking to continue their run. One pundit has suggested that Norway might be a tougher opponent than many anticipate, noting their strong performance against Brazil where they dominated possession in the second half and deserved to win.
The pundit also highlighted that Norway possesses several good players beyond their striker, Erling Haaland, who is considered a formidable goalscorer. Despite acknowledging Norway‘s strengths, the pundit believes England can win the game. Sir David Beckham visited the England squad at the training center of his club, Inter Miami, as they prepared for the upcoming match.
The quarter-final match between England and Norway is scheduled for July 12 at 2 AM PKT.
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Source: tapmad.com
