England faces defensive concerns ahead of World Cup quarter-final against Norway
England is grappling with several defensive fitness concerns as they prepare for their World Cup quarter-final match against Norway on Saturday. Defender Marc Guehi is set to undergo an assessment on Friday to determine his availability for the crucial fixture. The Manchester City centre-back sustained a slight hamstring injury during England’s 3-2 victory over Mexico in the last 16 at the Azteca Stadium.
Initially, there was hope that Guehi’s issue was merely muscular fatigue, suggesting he would be fit to play against Norway. However, it is now understood that he has a hamstring strain. Despite this, Guehi remains optimistic and is reportedly eager to prove his fitness. His participation in Friday’s training session with the squad will be critical; if he cannot train, his inclusion against Norway will be in major doubt. While the injury is not considered serious, England head coach Thomas Tuchel may be hesitant to take risks with defenders, especially with Erling Haaland, who has scored seven goals, posing a significant threat for Norway.
Right-back challenges persist
The right-back position continues to be a problematic area for England, marked by injuries and suspensions. Reece James, the first-choice right-back, returned to training on Thursday after suffering a hamstring injury during a goalless draw with Ghana. James did not complete the entire training session but is expected to be available for the Norway match, provided he experiences no adverse effects from Thursday’s workout. His return offers a welcome boost to Tuchel, given the ongoing issues in that defensive role.
Reports on Monday had already indicated that the Chelsea defender was anticipated to return to training and be in contention for the Norway game. However, James has not trained for two weeks due to his hamstring strain, and while he is slowly recovering, it is unlikely he would be able to play the full 90 minutes. Playing him risks a potential relapse, which could end his World Cup campaign.
Another right-back option, Djed Spence, is also nursing a minor injury and missed some training sessions prior to the last 16 tie. He appeared uncomfortable during his late appearance in the Mexico City match. His recovery in the coming days will be vital for his chances of starting on Saturday.
Adding to the defensive woes, Jarell Quansah, who started at right-back against Mexico, has been banned for two games following his red card in the round-of-16 tie. England has not yet made a decision on whether to appeal the red card, but even if they do, it is considered unlikely that FIFA’s disciplinary committee would overturn the decision at this late stage.
Before the tournament even began, Tino Livramento sustained a calf injury, leading to the call-up of Chelsea central defender Trevoh Chalobah, who can also play at full-back, as his replacement. With these combined issues, Djed Spence was potentially the only natural right-back available for the Norway fixture, assuming James remained sidelined.
Midfield and defensive cover
In midfield, Declan Rice missed a second consecutive day of training due to a sickness bug. Rice has also been managing a neural issue affecting his hamstring and lower back, which has been exacerbated by his illness. Despite these concerns, he is still expected to be available for the match in Miami. England has implemented measures to prevent the spread of the bug within the squad.
With Guehi’s fitness uncertain, defensive options at centre-back include John Stones, Dan Burn, and Chalobah. If neither James nor Spence is fit to start at right-back, Ezri Konsa is a strong candidate for the role. Konsa played at right-back in a back five against Mexico and is considered adept in that position. However, deploying Konsa there would necessitate a defensive reshuffle, potentially involving Stones moving to centre-back.
Stones, despite his experience, is still regaining top-level match fitness after a period of limited play. He started England’s World Cup opener against Croatia but was subsequently dropped for the second game against Ghana. The team’s defensive performance in the second half against Mexico, playing with 10 men for 47 minutes and conceding minimal non-penalty xG, was notable. However, the challenge posed by Haaland and Norway is expected to be more significant than that of Raul Jimenez and Mexico.
Veteran midfielder Jordan Henderson, who recently underwent surgery for a broken arm sustained during post-match celebrations after the Mexico win, has returned to the team hotel in Kansas City but did not participate in training. Although ruled out for the rest of the tournament, Henderson will remain with the squad, as Tuchel values his positive influence within the group. Wednesday’s workout marked England’s first training session since returning from Mexico City, with players having been given two days off following their victory.
Source: bbc.com
