England Receives Fitness Boost Ahead of World Cup Clash with Norway

England’s preparations for their World Cup quarter-final against Norway steadied on Friday, as Declan Rice, Marc Guehi and Reece James all stepped back onto the training pitch in Miami and eased a few nerves back home.

Rice, the heartbeat of England’s midfield, had been isolated from the squad after falling ill in the wake of Monday’s last-16 win over Mexico in Kansas City. His absence sparked real concern inside the camp, given his importance out of possession and in setting the tempo. By Friday afternoon, he was back with the group, moving freely and taking a full part in the session.

Alongside him, Guehi’s presence was just as significant. The defender had missed Thursday’s workout in Kansas City amid worries over a hamstring problem, a red flag at this stage of a tournament when muscle injuries can end campaigns. Any doubts eased as he joined in with the rest of the squad in Miami, suggesting England’s back line should remain intact for the meeting with Norway.

James’ return came with a little more caution attached. The Chelsea full-back, working his way back from a hamstring issue of his own, trained with the team for the first time in almost three weeks. His workload is being carefully managed and he is unlikely to be ready to start on Saturday, but simply having him back on the grass offers Gareth Southgate another high-class option as the tournament deepens.

There were still absentees. Jordan Henderson, who suffered a broken wrist and arm during the wild celebrations that followed the victory over Mexico, sat out the session and will not feature. Jarell Quansah is also ruled out, serving the first match of a two-game suspension after his red card in that same last-16 tie.

The setting added an extra layer of intrigue. England were working at Inter Miami’s training centre, with the squad receiving a visit from the club’s owner, Sir David Beckham. The former England captain spent time around the camp, a reminder of past World Cup campaigns and the scrutiny that comes with them.

Outside the training bubble, the noise is building. Jamie Carragher expects England to edge through but has warned against any hint of complacency. The Sky Sports pundit is calling a tight 2-1 win for Southgate’s side in Miami, but his respect for Norway is clear.

Central to that is Erling Haaland. Carragher believes the Manchester City striker will go down as “the greatest goalscorer of all time”, a frightening thought for any defence, let alone one facing knockout football in suffocating pressure and heat. Yet he stressed that Norway are no one-man show.

Carragher pointed to their performance against Brazil as the clearest warning sign. Norway, he noted, were “fantastic”, fully deserving their victory and controlling the ball for long spells, particularly after the interval. They showed they can dominate possession against elite opposition, not simply sit deep and wait for Haaland to pounce.

“They have some really good players,” Carragher said, underlining the technical depth and organisation that underpin the Norwegians’ threat.

For all that, he still sees a path for England. It is, in his view, “a game we can win” — but only if they treat Norway with the same seriousness they would afford any of the traditional heavyweights.

So England head into Saturday with their midfield anchor back, a key centre-back available, and an elite full-back edging closer to full fitness. The squad is not at full strength, yet it is strong enough. Now comes the hard part: proving it when Haaland and Norway stand in the way of a World Cup semi-final.