2nd Arsenal star a doubt for England v Norway

Declan Rice has been kept away from the England squad as a precaution after Martin Odegaard was also hit by illness in the Norway camp.

Declan Rice has become the second Arsenal player to emerge as a doubt for England’s World Cup quarter-final against Norway, just 24 hours after Martin Odegaard was revealed to be suffering from a virus moving through the Norwegian camp.

Rice, England’s vice-captain, has been missing from training this week amid concerns over illness spreading through their squad, as well.

He has also been managing pain in his hamstring and back, but is illness that has put feft him as a doubt for the game, with Thomas Tuchel thought to have kept the midfielder away from the main group as a precaution, according to The Telegraph.

That leaves England and Norway waiting on two of their most important players before their quarter-final clash on 11 July, which kicks off at 10pm in the UK.

Odegaard has also fallen ill with a cold-like virus sweeping through Norway’s World Cup camp. His uncle, the national team physio Thomas Odegaard, has reportedly suffered most from the symptoms.

Another member of Norway’s training staff has also been ill, while right back Marcus Holmgren Pedersen, who missed the win over Brazil because of the illness, is back in training.

At the time of writing, it is not clear whether Odegaard or Rice will be fit to play this weekend.

England have also been hit by the news that Jarrel Quansah’s red card ban has been increased from one game to two. The English FA made representations to FIFA, using similar arguments to those made by America, but instead of the ban being suspended, it has been increased.

Quansah will now miss the quarter-final and would also miss the semi-final if England beat Norway.

Bukayo Saka said the ban was “incredibly frustrating for us, and for him”. He added: “But it is what it is. We have to deal with it, adapt and pick a team to win.”

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