- Guehi and Rice back in training to hand England timely lift
- Quansah suspended; Reece James fitness call; Henderson ruled out
- Norway buoyant after Brazil scalp, with Haaland the headline threat
England land in sweltering Miami with a smile back on Thomas Tuchel’s face. After days of doubt, Marc Guehi and Declan Rice both trained on Friday, easing fears of a patched-up XI for tonight’s World Cup quarter-final against Norway. The pair had been concerns — Guehi with a hamstring tweak in Mexico, Rice isolated through illness — but their return is a huge lift as fans flood South Beach in hope rather than prayer.
That optimism has nudged the mood and, yes, even the markets — no surprise if the best football betting sites have tightened things up. Still, Tuchel’s selection board isn’t exactly clutter-free: Jarell Quansah serves the second of a two-match ban, while Reece James faces a late hamstring call. Jordan Henderson remains out after that freak arm injury in the Mexico celebrations.
Team News and Selection Calls
Should James not make it, expect Ezri Konsa to cover at right-back, with the towering Dan Burn inside. Rice’s return would let England restore balance alongside Adam Anderson, freeing Jude Bellingham to roam between the lines. Out wide, Bukayo Saka and Anthony Gordon offer the legs to stretch a Norway defence that has quietly impressed. The predicted XI: Pickford; James (or Konsa), Konsa, Burn, O’Reilly; Anderson, Rice; Saka, Bellingham, Gordon; Kane.
Norway come in riding the wave of that win over Brazil. Erling Haaland is exactly as you fear — in form and in the mood — with Martin Odegaard threading the passes. There’s been a virus in their camp, but reports suggest the squad has largely shaken it off; Julian Ryerson is nursing a hamstring yet still expected to start. Predicted XI: Nyland; Ryerson; Ajer, Heggem, Moller Wolfe; Odegaard, Berge, Berg; Bobb, Haaland, Nusa.
Heat, Haaland, and How England Win
Make no mistake, the conditions are part of the contest. It’s set to feel like 45°C with suffocating humidity. England must play grown-up tournament football: manage tempo, keep the ball, and deny transitions where Haaland thrives. Set-pieces at both ends could be decisive, and Tuchel’s “brotherhood” theme clearly has traction — you saw it in Mexico and you heard it in the post-match “Wonderwall”. Channel that energy, keep mistakes off the menu, and the path opens.
When and Where to Watch
Kick-off: 10pm BST, Saturday 11 July, at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium. Live on ITV1 from 8:45pm BST, with streaming on ITVX. The winners face Argentina or Switzerland in the semi-final on 15 July in Atlanta. Buckle up — this one’s got edge, atmosphere and a proper centre-forward duel written all over it.
Bio:
Football fanatic, you will often find me on the terraces at lower league matches on a Saturday afternoon. I leave the Premier League matches to the prawn sandwich brigade; grassroots football for me all the way.
Key contributions:
As the lead copywriter, it’s my job to turn my colleagues’ “messy notes” (sorry, guys!) into clear, engaging content. From bookmaker reviews to betting predictions, I make sure everything is polished, accurate, and easy to read
Personnel betting philosophy or quotes:
“Great content, like great football, is all about the fundamentals”
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