Norway has enough problems heading into Saturday's World Cup quarterfinal against England. Illness has spread through the squad. Now the team has had to relocate its hotel just days before one of the most anticipated matches of the tournament.
According to Yahoo Sports, Norway spent only one night at The Dalmar in Fort Lauderdale before moving out. The reason was excessive noise, reportedly from construction outside the building. Players complained, and the team made the decision to find different accommodations.
Norway coach Stale Solbakken had already disclosed that illness was circulating through the squad. Jorgen Strand Larsen and Marcus Holmgren Pedersen both missed earlier games at the tournament due to sickness, and Solbakken confirmed that "a few players" were dealing with illness again heading into the England match.
Captain Martin Odegaard declined to give specifics about what drove the hotel switch. He acknowledged things had not been ideal but said the situation was resolved. "There were some things that could have been better, and we fixed them," Odegaard said. "Just to optimize and prepare ourselves as best as possible for an important match."
Norway enters the quarterfinal as the underdog. England is favored. But Norway's run through the tournament, fueled in large part by Erling Haaland, has made the team a legitimate contender. Norway knocked out Brazil on Sunday to advance to this stage.
The match is set for Saturday.
