England's Guehi, Rice & James all train before Norway game
Retold by Oddsrama · 10 July 2026
England's defensive line faces a nervous wait ahead of Saturday's World Cup quarter-final against Norway, with centre-back Marc Guehi nursing a hamstring strain that threatens to rule him out of the clash. The Manchester City defender reported discomfort following the Three Lions' victory over Mexico, though initial hopes suggested only muscular fatigue. However, medical assessment has since confirmed a genuine hamstring issue, leaving his availability dependent on how training progresses on Friday. With Erling Haaland's seven-goal tally making Norway a lethal attacking threat, Tuchel cannot afford to gamble on Guehi's fitness—a questionable defender is a liability England simply cannot risk.
Midfield worries compound the injury concerns for the England camp. Declan Rice has missed a second consecutive training session, battling both a neural issue affecting his hamstring and lower back and a sickness bug that's forced the squad into damage-control mode to prevent spread among the squad. The timing is far from ideal, though the issue appears manageable at this stage.
One bright spot emerges from Reece James's return to full training for the first time since his hamstring injury against Ghana. The right-back didn't complete the entire session, but showed enough promise to be in contention for the weekend. Tuchel's staff will now deliberate whether James starts or enters from the bench. From a betting perspective, England's defensive uncertainty could influence line markets and match outcomes—bookmakers will be watching injury confirmations closely before settling odds on the quarter-final showdown.
Related stories
Oddsrama retells the day's football news in our own words, with full credit to the source. 18+. Play responsibly.