High-flying Norwegians affected by sickness bug ahead of England showdown

Several members of the Norwegian national team squad are struggling with flu-like symptoms ahead of the World Cup quarter-final against England.

Manager Stale Solbakken confirmed that the Norwegian camp has been affected by sickness, but Solbakken is hopeful the situation is improving ahead of the anticipated clash in Miami. 

Norwegian media outlet Dagbladet reports that among those previously affected are striker Jorgen Strand Larsen, who missed Norway's opening match, and defender Marcus Holmgren Pedersen, who did not feature in the win against Brazil in the Round of 16 after falling ill.

Solbakken, however, appears unconcerned over the overall condition of his squad.

"We've had a couple of players who haven't been feeling well, but things are improving," Solbakken says to Dagbladet. He adds that it is nothing serious, but involves "a bit of a cough and a touch of hoarseness going around."

"There's air conditioning, planes, dressing rooms, and all that. We're a group of over 50 people, so it would be strange if there wasn't a bit of illness."

Norway has been hit by World Cup fever and, for most experts, exceeded expectations by booking their ticket to the quarter-finals, as they produced one of the tournament's biggest upsets by eliminating Brazil.

Erling Haaland took his goalscoring tally to seven in the World Cup by scoring twice in the 2-1 victory, to propel his country into the last eight of the World Cup for the first time in history.