New setback for England as Rice and Guehi face doubts before Norway

Today the concerns in the England camp have deepened, with midfield stalwart Declan Rice and defender Marc Guehi listed as major doubts ahead of the upcoming duel with Norway, and Rice may have picked up a flu-like virus. The new setback adds pressure on Thomas Tuchel as the team prepares for the Scandinavian opponent.

Rice, Guehi and Reece James trained separately on Wednesday during the group session, a clear sign of the growing health issues within the squad. The split training was reported by English media as a precautionary measure.

Reece James suffered an injury after England's third group‑stage match against Ghana, limiting his availability for the next fixtures. His injury further reduces the options for Tuchel's defensive line‑up.

Both Marc Guehi and Declan Rice emerged from the round‑of‑16 clash with Mexico not entirely unscathed, the match ending 3‑2. Rice later disclosed that he had already been dealing with hamstring complaints.

In addition to the hamstring problem, Rice is suspected of having a stomach virus, prompting English media to note that the Arsenal midfielder is being kept apart from the group to prevent any outbreak. The medical staff, however, have expressed no major concerns about the condition of the 77‑time international.

Thomas Tuchel will also have to cope without Jarell Quansah, who received a red card against Mexico and now faces a two‑match suspension. This disciplinary action further depletes England's defensive resources.

Given the injuries and suspensions, Tuchel is likely to call on Reece James again if his fitness permits, hoping to bolster the back line for the crucial encounter with Norway.