Norway’s national football team has been affected by illness ahead of their World Cup quarter-final match against England, raising concerns about a possible sickness bug within the camp. Several players and the team’s manager have experienced symptoms, which team officials attribute largely to the strain of extensive travel and changing environments.

Manager Stale Solbakken revealed that Crystal Palace striker Jorgen Strand Larsen missed Norway’s opening group match against Iraq due to illness, while right back Marcus Holmgren Pedersen was sidelined for the round of 16 game against Brazil after developing a fever. Solbakken himself showed signs of illness, coughing during a press conference following their group-stage match against France.

The Norwegian delegation, which has been based in Greensboro, North Carolina, has traveled nearly 8,000 miles across North America to participate in matches, a demanding schedule that Solbakken said contributes to the team’s ailments. “We’ve really only had Jorgen who has had a fever,” he noted, adding that others have experienced “coughing and rasping” symptoms scattered among the group of over 50 people.

Pedersen, who plays domestically for Italian club Torino, reportedly began experiencing respiratory symptoms and fatigue before his condition worsened, preventing him from participating fully. Solbakken suggested that the combination of physical and mental pressures—from being a young player adjusting to the World Cup’s intensity to the demanding travel schedule—may have weakened his ability to cope with the illness. “It’s not like Marcus is dying but he’s been struggling a bit the last few days,” the manager said.

The team left Greensboro for Miami, Florida, where they are scheduled to face England on Saturday at 10 p.m. local time. Solbakken expressed hope that settling in one location ahead of the crucial match would provide the players an opportunity to recuperate and regain strength. The overall tone from Norway’s camp remains cautiously optimistic, though the symptoms underline the challenges of competing at the highest level under physically taxing circumstances.