Norway beat Brazil to reach quarters, flu outbreak hits squad

You beat Brazil. You are in a World Cup quarter-final.

Norway 1–0 Brazil in the Round of 16, and it still feels unreal. Erling Haaland scored the only goal as your team knocked out a five-time champion (2). Norway are into the last eight for the first time in 28 years. The country that made sport fun for kids just outlasted the biggest football nation on earth (2).

Illness threatens the England camp

A flu-like virus is spreading through the Norway squad ahead of Saturday's quarter-final against England (3). Portuguese outlet A Bola reports the team has been "attacked" by the outbreak, with no names confirmed yet (3). The timing could hardly be worse.

Haaland: "I am Norwegian and proud of it"

Born in Leeds. Raised in Norway from age three. Erling Haaland settled the identity question himself: "I lived in England for three or four years, but I lived in Norway for much longer, so it was natural for me to choose Norway. You never know how it would have been if my father had played longer in England, maybe I would have been English... But I am Norwegian and I am proud of that" (4). He has seven goals in four matches at this tournament, level with Messi and Mbappé at the top of the scoring chart (4).

Ødegaard and Haaland lead Norway into Saturday

Martin Ødegaard captains the side. Haaland leads the line. England await on Saturday at 18:00 Brasília time (4). Thomas Tuchel has been shaping his England XI with Norway's counter-attacking threat clearly in mind. Wayne Rooney has already named his preferred England lineup for the match (5).

Rooney picks his England XI

Rooney's selection includes Declan Rice, Jude Bellingham, and Harry Kane, with James Trafford in goal and John Stones alongside Marc Guéhi at the back (5). He is taking Norway seriously. After Brazil, everyone is.

Fan reactions

The mood among Norway fans is a mix of euphoria and nervous laughter. The Brazil result has not fully sunk in, and now a flu outbreak has supporters refreshing for squad updates every few minutes. One Reddit thread is tracking the virus news with growing unease, while another is celebrating Kygo's new remix with Haaland, a bizarre, joyful distraction a few days before the biggest match in Norwegian football history.

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